More than 1,000 businesses across Northern Ireland are now employing Higher Level Apprentices, according to new research published by the Department for the Economy. The analysis reveals broad employer participation across business sizes and regions, with Further Education colleges in the west engaging the largest number of unique employers.
The NISRA publication ‘Employer participation in Higher Level Apprenticeships (HLA) across Northern Ireland 2025’ links employer records to the Inter-Departmental Business Register, offering the first detailed picture of which businesses are engaging with the programme. Higher Level Apprenticeships allow individuals to gain work-based training while earning a salary and achieving qualifications from Level 4 up to Level 7 (Master’s degree).
Over 1,000 Employers Back Skills Development
The research identifies 1,030 businesses employing higher level apprentices in 2025, with participation spread relatively evenly across business sizes:
- 30% are micro-businesses (fewer than 10 employees)
- 36% are small businesses (10-49 employees)
- 34% employ 50 or more staff
South West College, which covers Tyrone and Fermanagh, partnered with the largest number of employers, working with 285 unique businesses—accounting for 28% of all unique employers participating in the programme. Belfast recorded the highest concentration of businesses employing Higher Level Apprentices, with 17 per thousand businesses, closely followed by Mid Ulster (16 per thousand) and Newry, Mourne and Down (15 per thousand).
Three institutions—South West College, Southern Regional College and Ulster University—accounted for more than 50% of all Higher Level Apprenticeship employers, indicating that provision, while geographically spread, remains concentrated within specific educational providers.
Sectoral Reach and “Good Jobs” Focus
The statistics indicate participation across a range of sectors aligned with the Executive’s “Good Jobs” agenda, including computer programming, specialised construction, legal services and accounting. The data relates to the 2023/24 academic year, when 2,760 HLA students were enrolled—the most recent figures available.
Minister Welcomes Employer Engagement
Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald praised the employer contribution to skills development:
“This report highlights the strong contribution Higher Level Apprenticeships are making to delivering my Economic Vision.
“It shows how we are creating good jobs in key growth sectors, while supporting greater regional balance, with opportunities spread across communities right across the north.
“By working with employers and our Further Education colleges and Universities, Higher Level Apprentices are helping build the skilled workforce we need to increase productivity and support the transition to a more sustainable, low‑carbon economy.”
Data Gaps and Participation Questions
While the employer data provides a snapshot from March 2025, the most recent student enrolment figures date to the 2023/24 academic year. This timing mismatch makes it difficult to assess current capacity utilisation or whether the expansion in employer numbers has been matched by growth in apprentice starts.
The participation rate among micro-businesses (30%) appears modest when set against the broader business demography of Northern Ireland, where approximately 89% of registered businesses employ fewer than 10 people. This suggests significant potential for growth in small-firm engagement, though resource constraints and administrative capacity may limit uptake among the smallest enterprises.
Questions for Stakeholders
- With micro-businesses representing nearly 90% of the Northern Ireland business population but only 30% of HLA employers, what targeted financial or administrative support is needed to increase their participation?
- Given the one-year lag between employer data (2025) and student enrolment figures (2023/24), how many apprentices are currently placed with these 1,030 employers, and are vacancies being filled?
- As the economy transitions to low-carbon models, how will HLA provision adapt to ensure these “good jobs” remain relevant to emerging green sectors not yet reflected in current employer statistics?
- What proportion of these 1,030 employers are repeat participants versus new entrants to the programme, and does the data reveal any patterns in employer retention or dropout?
The publication marks a step toward greater transparency in skills development, linking administrative business data with education outcomes. As the Executive pursues its Economic Vision priorities of raising productivity and decarbonising the economy, observers will watch closely to see whether the 2024/25 student enrolment data—when published—reflects this expanded employer base, and whether participation can be deepened among the micro-business community that dominates Northern Ireland’s economic landscape.