For Employers · Care, Hospitality & Retail

Create the opening.
We'll do the rest.

Skilled Futures checks your eligibility and manages the entire process, from finding the right candidate to supporting them through to a completed apprenticeship.

Up to £6,000
Available to eligible employers who take on a Foundation Apprentice. Subject to eligibility.
Get your free eligibility check →

Takes 2 minutes · We'll be in touch within 1 working day

August 2026 cohort
Government-funded
Level 2 · 8 months
Track Record

Our leadership team has previously delivered employment and training programmes in partnership with organisations including national healthcare providers, high street retailers, and household-name employers.

"What stands out most is their commitment and passion to creating opportunities for young people." — Mike Metcalfe-Shaw, The Entertainer
"If we were considering Foundation Apprenticeships ourselves, Skilled Futures would be my first choice." — Dena Wyatt, Specsavers

Are you eligible?

Most employers in care, hospitality, and retail qualify. You'll likely be a good fit if:

Not sure? We'll confirm eligibility in your first call - no obligation.

Get your free eligibility check →
Honest Answers

We know what you're thinking.

Here's what employers usually tell us and exactly how we answer.

01
YOU
“We don't have time to manage a recruitment process on top of everything else.”
You run a busy operation. Adding a hiring project on top isn't realistic.
✓ US
We run the recruitment process for you.
We write the vacancy, attract candidates, screen applications, and shortlist only the people genuinely ready to work in your environment. You meet the shortlist. That's it.
02
YOU
“What if the young person isn't right for us or doesn't last?”
You've been burned before by staff who leave in the first few weeks.
✓ US
We screen carefully, and we stay involved throughout.
We don't place people who aren't ready. And when things get bumpy, our team is there to work through it alongside you — not leave you to manage alone.
📄
03
YOU
“We'll be left to sort out the admin and paperwork ourselves.”
Funding forms, compliance, off-the-job hours tracking, it sounds like a headache.
✓ US
We handle the admin end-to-end.
Funding paperwork, compliance, and tracking of training hours all sit with us, not you. You focus on the day-to-day working relationship.
🛡️
04
YOU
“We won't get proper support once the apprentice starts.”
Plenty of providers disappear after the placement is made.
✓ US
We stay involved for the full 8 months.
Regular check-ins with you and the apprentice, all the way through — not just at sign-up.

Convinced? Registering your interest takes 2 minutes.

Get your free eligibility check →

Entry-level recruitment, with and without us

The difference isn't just time. It's what happens when things go wrong.

Doing it alone
  • Write the job ad yourself
  • Sift through unsuitable applications
  • Candidate arrives unprepared day one
  • No support if things get difficult
  • Training falls on your team
  • You pay full recruitment costs
VS
With Skilled Futures
  • We design the vacancy with you
  • We shortlist only ready candidates
  • We prep them before they start
  • Dedicated contact for 8 months
  • All off-the-job learning delivered by us
  • Government-fundedup to £6,000 back

How it works

Four steps from your first conversation to a fully supported apprentice in post.

1
Register your interest - 2 minutes
Fill in the short form below. No commitment. We'll call you within one working day to understand your business and what you're looking for.
2
We design the vacancy together
Our team shapes the role around your real needs, confirms which government incentives you qualify for, and handles all the vacancy paperwork.
3
We find and prepare your candidate
We attract, screen and shortlist. You meet only the candidates who are ready for your environment. We prep them before day one.
4
We support you both for 8 months
Off-the-job training, progress reviews, employer check-ins and a dedicated contact throughout. You're never managing this alone.

Ready to see how it works for your business?

Get your free eligibility check →

Built for your sector

Foundation Apprenticeships are available across three sectors from August 2026.

Health & Social Care

Chronic staffing pressure, high turnover, and the complexity of care recruitment make Foundation Apprenticeships a natural fit. Build a loyal entry-level team with wraparound support from day one.

Care homesSupported livingCommunity careDomiciliary care
Catering & Hospitality

Seasonal recruitment pressures and high staff churn are facts of life in hospitality. Foundation Apprenticeships give you a structured way to bring in young people and keep them.

HotelsRestaurants & cafésEvent venuesFood service
Retail, Service & Administration

Whether you're running a shop floor, a customer service team or a back-office function, Foundation Apprenticeships build your entry-level pipeline and reduce costly no-shows.

Independent retailCustomer serviceStock & supplyAdministration

Whichever sector you're in, we'll handle the process for you.

Get your free eligibility check →

What employers say

We have worked with Paul for a number of years to develop traineeship programmes tailored specifically to the needs of our business. Their colleagues took the time to understand our requirements, helping to design a structured pathway that supported both our organisation and the young people taking part. Their support throughout recruitment and delivery was invaluable, helping many young people take their first steps into the world of work. Working closely with them, we had the opportunity to deliver classroom based sessions on working within retail and all of the possible career prospects in the retail world to engage young people wanting to start their career journey. What stands out most is their commitment and passion to creating opportunities for young people. Their dedication to supporting all learners, especially those who are home educated is second to none. They are caring, professional, and truly focused on making a difference. As we begin working together again, I would have no hesitation in recommending Skilled Futures to any organisation looking for a trusted partner that shares a commitment to developing future talent, builds a strong relationship with everyone involved, and has the needs of their students at the heart of everything they do.

Mike Metcalfe-Shaw, Learning and Development Specialist, The Entertainer
Specsavers logo

"The passion for supporting young people is not a tagline; it’s a deeply rooted commitment to transforming lives, expanding access to opportunities, and breaking down the barriers that hold young people back. Their ability to stay true to the values while pushing for innovation is what continues to draw people, myself included, towards the work they lead.

Having worked closely with Paul over the last six years, I can honestly say I've rarely met anyone more committed to supporting young people and creating meaningful career opportunities. His passion for improving outcomes and opening doors for the next generation is second to none, which is why, if we were considering Foundation Apprenticeships ourselves, Skilled Futures wouldbe my first choice.

Skilled Futures is founded by a team with real expertise, credibility and passion."

Dena Wyatt, Head of Apprenticeships, Specsavers

Common questions

How much can our business actually receive?
We'll confirm your eligibility as part of our first conversation, most SMEs in our three priority sectors qualify.
What if the apprentice isn't right for us?
We screen and shortlist carefully, and our onboarding support is designed to give young people the best possible start. If issues arise, our team works through them with you, you're not on your own.
How long is the commitment?
Foundation Apprenticeships are 8-month programmes at Level 2. Any decision about ongoing employment after completion is entirely yours.

August 2026 cohort - places filling now

Register your interest today and we'll call you within one working day to talk through how Foundation Apprenticeships can work for your business.

Get your free eligibility check →
hello@skilledfutures.co.uk
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