adi Group is celebrating its latest cohort of 12 students graduating from its Pre‑Apprentice Programme, at a time when youth unemployment continues to rise and the engineering sector is warning of widening skills gaps.

According to Skills England, more than a quarter of job vacancies are hard to fill due to skills shortages, particularly in priority sectors, including engineering, digital and construction. Youth unemployment reached 16.2% in early 2026, while nearly one million young people are currently not in education, employment or training.

Now in its tenth year, adi Group’s Pre‑Apprentice Programme gives young people structured, hands‑on access to engineering, offering early workplace experience at a point when the industry is calling for stronger routes into technical careers.

The graduation ceremony at the Group’s head office in Kings Norton, brought together students, their families, apprentices and members of the leadership team to celebrate two years of progress. All 12 students achieved a merit or distinction - a result that reflects both their commitment and the strength of the programme. Families also toured adi’s facilities to see first‑hand the practical engineering work students have undertaken.

Delivered in partnership with King Edward VI King's Norton School for Boys, the programme supports 14 to 16‑year‑olds through workshop learning and real workplace experience. It helps young people build confidence, develop technical skills and gain a clearer understanding of the career routes available within modern engineering, supporting their transition into future employment. 

The graduation comes as apprenticeships and technical education return to the national spotlight. Recent comments from Andy Burnham have highlighted the role that employer‑led work placements could play in public procurement and the wider economy, reinforcing the importance of early access routes for young people.

Several speakers addressed students and their families during the evening, including adi Group founder Alan Lusty - who began his own career as an apprentice - Group Strategic Account Director James Sopwith, who leads the Pre-Apprentice Programme, and current adi apprentices, Deon Gayle, Kate Lalli, and Jacy Stanley.

James Sopwith said: “If we want to build a resilient engineering workforce for the years ahead, young people need meaningful exposure to the sector much earlier in their journey.

“There are still outdated ideas about what engineering looks like, but today’s industry offers a wide range of career routes, modern working environments and opportunities for people with many different strengths.

“Hands‑on engineering experience is one of the most powerful ways to change those perceptions. When young people spend time in a real workshop environment, speak to people already working in the sector and understand the routes available to them, it can make engineering feel far more realistic and accessible as a future career.”

As part of its wider early careers work, adi Group also supports students through annual assemblies focused on engineering careers, as well as mock interview sessions designed to help young people understand what employers look for and practise speaking about their strengths in a supportive environment.

Richard Hodgetts, Science and Technology Faculty Lead at King Edward VI King's Norton School for Boys, said: “This is the strongest set of results we’ve had for this qualification, and we’re incredibly proud of what the students have achieved.

“adi’s support has made a real difference - not just in the skills the lads have developed, but in the confidence and direction they’ve gained from being in a live engineering environment.

“We’re grateful for the time, expertise and investment the team has put into our students. It’s given them a genuine first step towards a future in engineering.”

The Pre-Apprentice Programme forms part of adi Group’s wider apprenticeship and early careers pathway, which has supported a number of employees to progress from entry-level roles into senior leadership positions within the business, including Managing Director roles.

To explore more on adi Group’s apprenticeship programmes, please visit: https://adiltd.co.uk/