How to Host Your Own National Apprenticeship Week Event

National Apprenticeship Week Australia is a high-visibility opportunity held annually in the second week of February to celebrate apprentices, elevate the profile of vocational pathways, and showcase your commitment to a strong future workforce.

Whether you’re a small business with one or two apprentices, a large employer with many apprentices across sites, or an industry organisation, running your own event sends a powerful message to your staff, your community, and prospective future apprentices.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to planning and delivering a memorable National Apprenticeship Week Australia (NAWA) event that suits your size and scale.

1. Define Your Goals and Audience

Before you dive into logistics, clarify why you want to host an event and who you want to reach.

Possible goals include:

• Recognising the efforts and achievements of current apprentices (award, certificates, speeches)

• Boosting apprentice morale, engagement, and retention

• Showcasing the breadth of apprenticeship roles in your business to staff, clients, or the public

• Promoting apprenticeship pathways to schools, community groups, or prospective candidates

• Networking with industry, training providers, and government

• Strengthening your employer brand as a training employer

Your audience might include:

• Current apprentices and trainees

• Supervisors, mentors, and qualified tradies on staff

• Senior leadership, HR, or operations staff

• Clients, suppliers, or local community

• Local schools, careers advisers, or training providers

• Industry bodies or partner organisations

Clarifying your goals and audiences will help you shape format, content, and promotional strategy.

2. Choose an Event Format Suited to Your Organisation

Depending on your size, resources, and audience, here are some event ideas (or combinations thereof):

You can mix formats (e.g. host a small internal lunch and then livestream it to remote offices). The key is making the event meaningful and visible.

3. Plan the Content and Agenda

Here’s a sample agenda you could adapt:

1. Welcome and opening remarks (from CEO, HR lead, or apprentice supervisor)

2. Apprentice stories (short presentations or videos: “what I love about my trade,” “my challenges & wins”)

3. Mentor or supervisor reflections (lessons, pride, tips)

4. Awards and certificates (e.g. apprentice of the year, most improved, innovation award)

5. Networking, site tours or demonstrations

6. Presentation of future pathways or training plans

7. Closing and photo opportunities

Tips for stronger content:

Invite apprentices to co-design or co-present

Use multimedia: slides, video testimonials, or a social media takeover

Tie into the NAWA national campaign or theme (for 2026 the theme is “It’s in the making”)

Use the NAWA Resources Toolkit – download logos, banners, posters, and social graphics to brand your event consistently

4. Logistics, Timing and Promotion

Timing and location

• Schedule during National Apprenticeship Week (9–15 February 2026) to tap into national momentum

• Choose a space that can comfortably host your audience (meeting room, workshop floor, site floor walk)

• For on-site/demonstration events, ensure compliance with safety, insurance, PPE etc

Budget and resources

• Plan catering, printing, AV, photography, staffing

• Consider small giveaways (like a trade or petrol gift card) or branded merchandise (such as Trademutt gear)

Invitations and promotion

• Invite internal staff, apprentices, mentors, senior leadership

• Invite external stakeholders: industry bodies, training providers, schools, community groups

• Use email, intranet, bulletin boards, digital signage, and social media

• Use the NAWA Get Involved page’s guidelines to align your messaging

• Promote via your social channels during the week (use NAWA hashtag #NAWA and graphic assets)

• Capture photos, short videos, quotes live during the event for post-event content

5. Measure Impact and Keep Momentum

After the event, reflect and record outcomes:

• Number of attendees (internal and external)

• Apprentice feedback (surveys, interviews)

• Photos, video, social media impressions, website traffic

• Media mentions or press coverage

• What worked well, what to improve

Then turn your event content into further assets:

• Blog post summarising the event, including highlights, quotes, images

• Social media pieces – short video clips, behind the scenes, apprentice quotes

• Use media releases, internal newsletter features

• Use it to seed momentum for next year

6. Ideas Scaled by Organisation Size

For small businesses

• Host a simple Apprentice Appreciation Morning Tea or smoko

• Share apprentices’ success stories on your website and social media

• Invite local high school careers advisers or students to tour your premises

• Use the NAWA downloadable assets

For medium or multi-site employers

• Host simultaneous events across sites, perhaps linked via livestream

• Run inter-site apprentice competitions (e.g. best innovative idea)

• Publish a dedicated NAWA page on your website with event program and news

• Seek press coverage via local newspapers, trade publications

For large organisations and industry bodies

• Host a formal gala, invite government representatives and training providers

• Stage a public exhibition, trade fair or expo focusing on trades and apprenticeships

• Partner with other businesses, industry associations, unions or RTOs

• Become a NAWA Supporter to show your public commitment to apprenticeships

• Run special promotions during the week targeted to apprentices and trainees

7. How Industry Bodies and Associations Can Get Involved

If you represent an industry association, peak body, or training organisation, your role can amplify the impact of NAWA:

• Become a National Apprenticeship Week Supporter and be featured among organisations championing Australian Apprenticeships

• Host sector-wide events, roundtables, or webinars

• Encourage your members to host their own events and provide them with guidance or shared content

• Curate a joint awards or recognition program across member organisations

• Use your communications channels (newsletters and social media) to promote NAWA and your member events

Hosting your own National Apprenticeship Week event is a powerful way to recognise and elevate your apprentice workforce, raise awareness of vocation pathways, and align your organisation visibly with national momentum.

Whether your event is small and internal or large and public, the key ingredients are authenticity, celebration, and storytelling.

You can draw on the NAWA Resources and Get Involved pages for ready-made logos, banners, and guidance. And if your organisation wants to go further, consider becoming a NAWA Supporter to reinforce your commitment to the future of Australia’s skilled workforce.

Be part of the national celebration of Australian Apprentices during National Apprenticeship Week from 9-15 February 2026.