Oasis Community Learning recognised as a Top Apprenticeship Employer for 2026!

Oasis Community Learning has been recognised as one of the UK's Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers for 2026, ranking 68th nationally in a significant achievement that highlights our commitment to developing talent, creating opportunities and supporting career progression across the Trust. 

Delivered by Higherrin in partnership with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), the Top Apprenticeship Employers rankings celebrate organisations that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to apprenticeships. Rankings are based on apprentice achievement rates, the creation of apprenticeship opportunities, particularly for young people, and feedback from apprentices on the quality of their experience. Oasis currently holds an impressive 4.5 out of 5 apprentice rating on the Higherrin platform. 

We are especially proud to be the only Multi-Academy Trust included in this year's Top 100 ranking, reflecting the strength of our apprenticeship programme and the dedication of colleagues across Oasis who support apprentices to learn, grow and thrive. 

This recognition is the result of sustained investment in developing our people and creating meaningful career opportunities. Over the past three years, the number of apprentices across Oasis has grown from around 100 to more than 250, meaning apprentices now make up approximately 5% of our workforce, a proportion widely recognised as a benchmark for strong apprenticeship participation. 

Alongside this growth, Oasis has continued to strengthen its apprenticeship offer, develop clearer progression pathways and build closer partnerships with training providers to enhance the apprentice experience. 

Apprenticeships play a vital role in helping us develop the skills our organisation needs while creating opportunities for colleagues at every stage of their career journey. From those taking their first steps into employment to experienced staff seeking to deepen their expertise or progress into leadership roles, apprenticeships provide valuable pathways for professional and personal development. 

For Laura Bullen, National Lead of Operational Learning & Development at Oasis Community Learning, the achievement represents both a milestone and a platform for future growth. She said: 

"This is an absolutely fantastic achievement for Oasis and one that everyone involved should be incredibly proud of. Being recognised as a Top Apprenticeship Employer has been a personal ambition since I joined Oasis, because I have always seen the potential to have an even greater impact on both individuals and the organisation through apprenticeships. 

"To now see Oasis recognised nationally is a testament to the commitment of our apprentices, leaders and provider partners. The levy is a real gift when working in the public sector; without the training budgets of our private sector counterparts, it enables us to recruit and develop colleagues in ways which wouldn't otherwise be possible.”

Donna Nolan, Apprenticeship Manager at Oasis Community Learning, added: 

"We're incredibly proud to be included in this year's Top 100, but we're not standing still. Our focus is to continue to improve the experience for our apprentices and making sure we're using our apprenticeship levy to develop the skills our organisation needs while creating meaningful opportunities for colleagues to grow and progress. 

"Social mobility is at the heart of why I believe so strongly in apprenticeships and it's important that we invest our levy funding in alignment with Oasis's vision and values." 

This national recognition is a testament to the colleagues across Oasis who champion apprenticeships every day, supporting apprentices to develop new skills, build confidence and take the next steps in their careers. 

Being recognised alongside some of the UK's most respected employers demonstrates the growing impact of apprenticeships at Oasis and highlights how they can create meaningful career opportunities, support social mobility, and help develop and retain talented people within the education sector. 

Thank you to everyone who has contributed to our apprenticeship programme and helped make this recognition possible. Congratulations to all our apprentices, mentors, managers and colleagues who have played a part in this fantastic achievement. 

Interested in an apprenticeship with Oasis? 

Whether you're starting your career, looking to develop new skills, or ready to take the next step professionally, our apprenticeship programmes offer a range of opportunities to learn, grow and progress within a values-driven organisation. 

You can find all our apprenticeship vacancies listed on the government's Find An Apprenticeship site by searching for Oasis Community Learning.