Following the success of its 2025 campaign, University of Derby – Buxton is once again taking an innovative approach to schools’ engagement during National Apprenticeship Week 2026 (9–15 February).
Tom Malpass, Business Development Manager at UoDB says, “after brightening up the area last year with our American style yellow bus, this year we will be out in force again, touring a 1960s red London Routemaster double-decker. We are transforming it into a unique mobile meeting hub that will visit local schools throughout the week of NAW.”
The initiative aims to engage students through apprenticeship-focused talks and interactive activities, raising awareness of apprenticeships and the opportunities available through the University of Derby.
Alongside apprenticeship staff, the bus will visit 10 schools across the region:
| Day | Date | Schools (with locations) |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 9 February | New Mills (New Mills), Glossopdale (Glossop) |
| Tuesday | 10 February | Lady Manners (Bakewell), Anthony Gell (Wirksworth) |
| Wednesday | 11 February | Chapel-en-le-Frith (Chapel-en-le-Frith), St Philip Howard (Glossop) |
| Thursday | 12 February | Buxton Community School (Buxton), St Thomas More (Buxton) |
| Friday | 13 February | Queen Elizabeth’s (Ashbourne), Highfields (Matlock) |
At each location, students will take part in engaging activities designed to showcase apprenticeships as a valuable and practical route into employment. Building on last year’s success, which saw over 1,000 students engaged through the bus campaign, UoDB is aiming to reach even more young people in 2026, supported by strong positive feedback from participating schools.
In addition to the school’s outreach programme, UoDB will be hosting a number of other events throughout National Apprenticeship Week. On Tuesday 9 February, the University will hold its Annual Employer & Stakeholder Dinner, designed, prepared, and served by Catering and Hospitality apprentices at the AA Rosette-commended, Harpurs Bistro.
An Employer Roundtable will take place on Thursday 12 February (8.30am–9.30am) at the Devonshire Dome, providing employers with the opportunity to share feedback on apprenticeships with the UoDB team and Anthony Impey MBE (National Chair of the Apprenticeship Ambassador Network, in partnership with the Department for Education).
Later that day (Thursday 12th February), UoDB will also host an Apprenticeship-themed Open Evening from 5pm–7pm, featuring an employer zone where local businesses can showcase their apprenticeship/ organisation’s opportunities.
For more information about any of these activities, or to find out how to get involved, please email Thomas Malpass, Apprenticeships Business Development Manager: t.malpass@derby.ac.uk, or the central team at: feapprenticeships@derby.ac.uk
Book now for the UoDB Open event on Thursday 12th February 5 – 7pm, here.
