Brewery Molson Coors, automation technology specialist FESTO GB and brick manufacturer Ibstock UK are among the latest employers to be recognised with the Next Gen Makers Engineering Apprenticeships: Employer Accreditation (backed by national manufacturing body Make UK) in January 2026.
They join a wider cohort of companies in January 2026 including engineering group British Engines, high horse power engine manufacturer Cummins Daventry, the automation and instrumentation specialist for ingredient handling processes Promtek, and Davicon Group, manufacturers of mezzanine floors.
These companies represent the best employers in the UK for engineering apprenticeships – validated by the feedback of their existing apprentices and a commitment to benchmark their scheme against and maintain best in class methods.
Essentially, they work hard to create a great apprentice experience.
Notably within the cohort SME’s Davicon Group, Brown & Holmes and Promtek have retained the Gold standard ‘Excellent Employer’ status for a fourth year running, highlighting the fantastic early careers opportunities within SME manufacturing in the UK.
Festo GB have also retained their Gold status for a third year running and Molson Coors for a second year running. Ibstock and British Engines have also successfully retained Accreditation for a second year running.
The January cohort join a wide range of engineering and manufacturing from across England to be accredited with the Next Gen Makers Engineering Apprenticeships Employer Accreditation, including, but not limited to: R&B Switchgear, Collins Aerospace, Alucast, Sheffield Forgemasters, Hadley group, Paralloy, TGW, LBBC Group, LISI Aerospace, HEX Group, Capula, The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, aDi Group, Powell Industries, Sertec, Kirkstall Precision Engineering, SMC, Thomas Dudley Ltd, West Midlands Trains, Whale Tankers, KUKA, Renishaw, Teledyne e2V, Brown McFarlane Ltd and many more.
90% of the employer Accreditation is based on the feedback of existing engineering apprentices at the companies, with the other 10% attributed to the company benchmarking and evidencing best practice within its’ apprenticeship scheme.
Adam Tipper, Founder and Managing Director at Next Gen Makers comments: “Great employers are no longer defined by what they say, but what their apprentices experience.
“This closely aligns with insights emerging from the Next Gen Makers Best Practice Programme, which benchmarks apprenticeship quality across engineering employers nationwide. According to our programme’s findings, organisations that actively measure apprentice satisfaction and act on feedback consistently report higher retention rates, stronger engagement and improved talent pipelines—particularly in sectors facing acute skills shortages.”
Next Gen Founder Adam Tipper said the growing focus on quality marks an important evolution in how apprenticeships are viewed by both employers and young people: “Over the past few years, we’ve seen a clear pattern,” Tipper said. “Employers that invest in structure, wellbeing and progression attract more applicants and they retain them.
“Apprentices are far more likely to stay with businesses where they feel listened to and can see a future.”
He added that apprentice feedback gathered through the programme often challenges assumptions. “Many employers think they’re doing everything right, until they hear directly from their apprentices. That insight is powerful—it drives improvement, strengthens schemes and ultimately differentiates employers in a very competitive recruitment market.”
Many more companies committed to future proofing skills via apprenticeships are set to achieve the Accreditation in 2026 and are on programme to learn how to increase success rates by adopting best practice methodologies within their schemes, leverage insight and work towards getting recognised as excellent employers via Accreditation.
This ensures those that manage the apprenticeship schemes at these companies teams are equipped with the knowledge and tools to best attract and retain talent to future proof their businesses.
Tipper concludes: “Congratulations to the January 2026 cohort, we look forward to seeing your progress moving forward.”
If you are an engineering & manufacturing employer interested in learning more about getting your apprenticeship scheme validated via Accreditation or improving your results via learning from best practices, register your interest here.