The UK’s digital skills gap continues to widen, with employers across every sector struggling to recruit talent in IT support, network engineering, cyber security, marketing, data, and AI‑driven automation.
Government-funded apprenticeship programmes offer a cost‑effective, scalable way for employers to retrain existing staff or bring in new talent, without the financial burden of traditional training routes.
In 2026, apprenticeships have become one of the most strategic tools for workforce development, especially for SMEs that need practical, job‑ready digital capability.
Velocity Academy delivers a range of digital programmes aligned to these needs, including:
These pathways allow employers to build internal capability rather than relying solely on external recruitment.
Digital apprenticeships in England are funded through the Growth & Skills Levy, meaning:
For Levy‑paying employers (payroll over £3m)
For SMEs and non‑levy employers
For existing staff
1. Identify your skills gaps
HR and L&D teams should map current capability against future needs. Common digital gaps include:
2. Choose the right apprenticeship standard
Select a programme aligned to the job role. For example:
3. Select an apprenticeship provider
When comparing apprenticeship providers for SMEs, look for:
Velocity Academy specialises in digital skills training for tech teams, marketing departments, and AI‑driven organisations, making it a strong fit for employers seeking practical, job‑ready outcomes.
4. Set up your Digital Apprenticeship Service (DAS) account
Employers must create a DAS account to manage funding, add apprentices, and approve training.
You will need:
5. Recruit or nominate apprentices
You can either:
6. Launch the programme
Once the apprentice is enrolled, training begins through a blend of:
For UK businesses in 2026, digital apprenticeships are no longer optional, they are essential.
They offer a government‑funded, scalable route to building internal capability across marketing, IT, data, and AI.
Whether you are retraining existing staff or bringing in new talent, the right apprenticeship programme can transform your organisation’s digital maturity.
I have loved every part of my Marketing apprenticeship with Velocity Academy. Paired with hands on experience at JCB, a leading construction and agricultural equipment manufacture and the outmatched guidance from the Velocity team, I achieved a distinction for this course.
We have chosen to continue, and expand, our partnership with Velocity Academy due to outstanding working relationship we’ve built together. From the very beginning, Velocity have shown exceptional flexibility in accommodating our evolving requirements, often going above and beyond to tailor their delivery to our operational needs, always putting the wellbeing of the learners first. Velocity Academy have delivered consistent quality in both teaching and customer services (namely Lee and Emma) making them a trusted partner in delivering apprenticeships to our employees.
My experience with Graham at Velocity Academy has been nothing short of exceptional. His professionalism, expertise, and commitment to finding the right apprentices have been very impressive.
Once the candidates were selected, the transition to getting them on board was remarkably quick and seamless. Graham efficiently handled all the necessary paperwork and administrative tasks, making the onboarding process hassle-free.
I would recommend their services to anyone in search of apprentices who will make a positive impact on their business. Our apprentices are excelling in their roles and continuously developing their skills.
Velocity Academy sourced a fantastic Apprentice Developer on our behalf and we couldn’t have been happier with the service. Regular check-ins, guidance and support from the start and genuine care were put into the recruitment process from Velocity, which meant they came up trumps with a cracking candidate. They have been outstanding. Thanks Velocity!
