Barnsley Council celebrates national recognition for apprenticeship excellence

Barnsley Council is delighted to be recognised by the UK government for outstanding commitment to apprenticeships, celebrating our spot on the 2025 ‘Top Apprenticeship Employers’ list.  

The rankings, published by the Department for Education, showcase Barnsley Council as a leading apprenticeship employer. The list features some of the country's most recognisable names, including McDonald's, Specsavers, and the British Army.  

Ranked 97th overall, this achievement reflects years of work to create quality opportunities for people across the borough to learn and earn. 

Councillor Robert Frost, Cabinet Spokesperson for Core Services, said: “Securing a spot among the nation’s top apprenticeship employers is a testament to our focus on nurturing talent, supporting skills development, and investing in the future workforce of Barnsley. 

This recognition is a tribute to the dedication of our apprentices, the passion of our Apprenticeship team, mentors and managers, as well as the strength of our local partnerships. It’s fantastic to hear how these efforts are enabling people of all backgrounds to build rewarding careers here in Barnsley – the place of possibilities.” 

We spoke to our apprentices to ask about their highlights of working for Barnsley Council:  

• Thomas, a Quantity Surveyor, said: “This role has genuinely changed my life. I wanted to change careers, but I had no clue what job to do. I was worried about starting afresh at 30 years old. I couldn’t have afforded to do a three-year full-time course, so the apprenticeship route was perfect for me. I can’t thank Barnsley Council enough.”
• Heather, a Project Manager, said: “My coaching and mentoring apprenticeship has helped me to gain insight and experience in supporting colleagues to develop. Watching people grow and achieve their goals is highly rewarding. The skills I have learned will be invaluable to me in my future career.”
• Jack, an Accounting Technician, said: “My apprenticeship has helped me build confidence in managing complex financial tasks and communicating effectively with colleagues across teams. I’ve applied my learning in real-world scenarios, developed technical skills, and grown professionally with my supportive team. I feel like I have a strong foundation for my future career in public sector finance now, all thanks to Barnsley Council.” 

Find out more 

We’re an award-winning council and one of the biggest employers in the borough, supporting around 243,000 people. We work together to make a real difference to people’s lives - bringing them together, connecting them to services, and helping them to be the best they can be. 

For more information about apprenticeship opportunities with Barnsley Council, please visit our apprenticeships webpage. For more information about working at Barnsley Council, please visit Barnsley.gov.uk/Jobs.