Busy Bees Ranks in UK's Top 5 Apprenticeship Employers from Sunday Times and Department for Education

Busy Bees has achieved a remarkable double honour, securing a top five spot in two of the country's most prestigious apprenticeship rankings: The Sunday Times Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers 2025 and the Department for Education. 

Outshining more than 600 organisations, Busy Bees is the only company to earn top five status in both rankings, reinforcing its reputation as a trailblazer in apprenticeship excellence and its commitment to nurturing the next generation of early years educators. 

With over 357 nurseries across the UK and around 1,200 apprentices currently in training, Busy Bees is investing in the future of early years education, with ambitious plans to increase apprentice recruitment by 18% this year, in support of the government’s early years agenda. 

The Sunday Times Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers 2025 places Busy Bees among the nation’s elite employers, recognised for their outstanding work in nurturing apprentices, driving inclusion and delivering meaningful career pathways. 

Simultaneously, the Department for Education’s own rankings highlight the organisations delivering the very best apprenticeship programmes based on performance, impact and apprentice feedback.   

Charlotte Hutchings, Group Chief People Officer at Busy Bees, said: “We’re incredibly proud to be recognised as one of the top 100 apprenticeship employers, and ranking 4th and 5th is an honour and testament to our commitment to supporting and investing in future talent.  

“Apprenticeships play a vital role at Busy Bees, helping us to welcome driven individuals who share our commitment to giving every child the best start in life. We would encourage anyone who is passionate about early years, ambitious and wants to make a difference to children’s lives to consider a Busy Bees apprenticeship. We’re truly proud of our apprentices who have such a positive impact on children’s learning and development.” 

With apprenticeship roles available at Busy Bees’ centres across the UK, successful candidates will have the chance to work towards a Level 2, 3 or 5 apprenticeships across the Early Years sector, whilst also gaining practical experience in creating a happy and safe environment in which children can play and learn. Apprentices will also have the chance to be a part of teaching Busy Bees’ Bee Curious curriculum, the UK’s only independently evaluated early years curriculum which has been designed to feed children’s natural curiosity and foster a lifelong love of learning. 

Julia Lange, who is originally from Finland, recently achieved her Level 2 and Level 3 in Childcare. Despite facing challenges including English not being her first language, Julia persevered with diligence.    

Julia is now an Early Years Practitioner at Busy Bees Lancaster. She said: “While I am proud of passing both my Level 2 and Level 3 qualifications in Childcare, as well as achieving my English and Maths certificates, the accomplishment that stands out the most is the bond I have formed with the children in my care. 

“My advice to anyone considering an apprenticeship is simple: don’t give up. If you are truly passionate about working in Early Years, keep pursuing your goal. There may be obstacles along the way, but persistence, dedication, and a love for helping children learn and grow will guide you through.” 

To find out more about our apprenticeships, click here.