Ayrshire Apprenticeship Challenge

The Ayrshire Apprenticeship Challenge is a fantastic opportunity to give back to your community while developing the skills and talent of your apprentice workforce.

This challenge runs annually and launched in June 2026 to new applications.

The 2026-2027 Challenge is sponsored by Skills Development Scotland.

Here’s why you should participate:

Make a positive impact: Your apprentices will plan, develop, and complete a project that benefits your local community. Past projects have included everything from building additions to playgrounds to fundraising for charities!

Empower your apprentices: The challenge gives them ownership and responsibility – a chance to shine and showcase their abilities beyond the everyday.

Boost morale and engagement: Working on a meaningful project together fosters teamwork and creates a more engaged and motivated apprentice team.

Attract and retain top talent: Highlight your commitment to social responsibility and employee development, making your company a magnet for talented young people

What kind of projects are eligible?

The sky’s the limit! Think building, decorating, event planning, fundraising, raising awareness, or educating. Whether it’s physical (like building something for a community garden) or more administrative (like organising a charity run), the key is to make a positive difference.

For more information in the meantime, please refer to the below:

The 2026-2027 Challenge has just opened for applications and competing teams will be announced soon.

Who can enter?

Open to companies with one or more apprentices (Foundation, Modern, or Graduate)

We welcome 3 different types of ‘teams’:

• Individuals
• Company Teams
• Blended teams (Blended teams could be made up of students from the same course at College)

What is the timeline?

• • Monday 20th July 2026 – Deadline for Registration 
  • August- January 2026/27 – Completion of project
  • Tuesday 1st September 2026– Optional Team building workshop
  • Thursday 24th September 2026 – Optional Leadership workshop
  • Wednesday 25^th November 2026– Optional Report/Portfolio workshop
  • Wednesday 20th January 2027 – Optional Presentation Skills workshop
  • Friday 29th January 2027 (no later than 5pm)– Portfolio Submission Deadline
  • W/C Monday 1st March 2027 (Exact date TBC) – Final Event during Scottish Apprenticeship Week

Spread the Word!

We encourage you to promote the Ayrshire Apprenticeship Challenge within your company and community.

Social Media Content

We’re keen to showcase the fantastic work apprentices deliver throughout the Ayrshire Apprenticeship Challenge. As part of this we’d like to capture content across the year with apprentices. This includes videos content such as ‘Meet the Apprentice(s)’, features and behind-the-scenes moments.

We are also encouraging apprentices to create and share their own videos, which can be features across DYW Ayrshire and Ayrshire Chamber or Commerce social media channels. To support this, we will provide a toolkit with tips and guidance. Participation in social media activity is entirely optional.

Media Coverage:

To ensure proper recognition for everyone involved, please include the following details in any media coverage related to the Challenge:

Initiative Name: Ayrshire Apprenticeship Challenge

Sponsored by: Skills Development Scotland

Participating Organisers: DYW Ayrshire and Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce

For questions or media release review, contact Ellie Philp: ephilp@ayrshire-chamber.org

The Challenge Details:

Open to companies with one or more apprentices (Foundation, Modern, or Graduate).

Project completion window: 7 months (this year is running from August 2026 – January 2027).

Registration deadline: Monday 20th July 2026.

Ready to join the Challenge?

To participate, you will be asked to fill out the simple registration form below and submit it.

For more information on the Challenge please refer to the FAQs.