Andy BensonAs everyone knows, the workplace has changed dramatically over the past 10 years. The way we find work, the types of jobs available and even the everyday tasks we complete are different to what they once were. With these changes have come both challenges and opportunities.
One area that has seen a dramatic transformation is apprenticeships, yet the public perception is yet to catch up. What was once a little-known pathway is now a thriving training offering that spans a range of careers and provides opportunities to all.
The development of apprenticeship schemes across industries has been rapid. Within Bupa we have taken great pride in developing new opportunities across the business and being a champion for the development it provides our people.
Apprenticeships within Bupa
From launching our first apprenticeship over six years ago, to now having 29 different programmes in 2026, Bupa has been on a journey to build a learning and development programme that reacts to the ever-changing workplace environment.
At Bupa, apprenticeships aren’t just a benefit; they’re a powerful way to grow, innovate, and shape your future. They help our people stay ahead of the curve, whether that’s learning the very latest on artificial intelligence (AI) to support their role, or taking that next step in their career with leadership training.
Over the past six years more than 5,700 learners have taken the opportunity to enrol on a programme, unlocking new skills and accelerating their careers. Throughout that time we have continually evolved to add new opportunities to our programme that provide the necessary skills for our people that reflect the latest workplace trends and requirements.
As a result, Bupa is ranked 15th in the Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers in England by the Department for Education, also gaining the #1 spot among healthcare providers.
Benefits to retraining and learning later in life
Apprenticeships are not just for the youngest generations either. While they do provide a great way for young people to get their first foray into the world of work, they also provide an amazing opportunity for others to retrain and explore their evolving interests and skills.
For example, technology and AI are currently providing vast opportunities for growth and development but can also be daunting and present a challenge to existing ways of working. Apprenticeships offer the opportunity for everyone stay ahead of the curve by embracing new aspects of the job that maybe didn’t always exist.
Bupa is committed to upskilling a minimum of 300 ‘future focused specialists’ as part of this year’s apprenticeship scheme. The ‘AI Productivity Champion’ programme is just one way in which our teams are making the most of the opportunities offered by AI and are staying ahead of the curve.
The benefits don’t stop there, however. It has also been proven that working later in life is good for your health, and an apprenticeship can help you do that.
The latest Bupa Wellbeing Index has shown that working later in life is closely tied to maintaining good health into older age. Social wellbeing is a central part of working that is vital to our mental health, but working also has benefits on our physical health too.
Mental capability is something we often see decline with age. Staying in the workforce longer can provide a framework for maintaining cognitive function as well. Regular engagement with tasks, problem-solving, and social interaction have been shown to delay cognitive decline. Taking on an apprenticeship later in your career could be a key way to stave off dementia by providing a new challenge and encouraging problem solving and learning.
Ambitious plans
At Bupa, we know how important apprenticeships are to the fabric of our workforce, as well as individuals’ health and wellbeing. Which is why we continue to push forward with our expansion into new areas of apprenticeships and provide more investment than ever before.
This year we have expanded our apprenticeship programme into new areas, to support our people stay ahead of the curve, take on new challenges, and progress within their careers.
Whether it’s a young person looking to take that next step in their career, someone looking to upskill and change their trajectory, or someone later in life thinking about the benefits of learning, there is something for everyone. We will continue to champion apprenticeships and the opportunities they provide and support our people in making the most of them.
Andy Benson is apprenticeship delivery manager at Bupa UK
