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):
-
Suitable for: Small to medium businesses
Key benefits: Low cost, internal visibility; informal speeches, certificate handovers, “apprentice of the year” award
-
Suitable for: Businesses with workshops, factories, or field sites
Key benefits: Invite students, school groups, clients or community to see apprentices at work
-
Suitable for: Medium / large organisations
Key benefits: Build connection, share apprenticeship stories, address common questions
-
Suitable for: Larger employers or industry associations
Key benefits: Formal event with guest speakers, media, and networking
-
Suitable for: Satellite sites or remote employees
Key benefits: Allows broader reach, lower travel overhead
-
Suitable for: All sizes
Key benefits: Joint event fosters community engagement, and raises awareness to potential future apprentices
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:
Welcome and opening remarks (from CEO, HR lead, or apprentice supervisor)
Apprentice stories (short presentations or videos: “what I love about my trade,” “my challenges & wins”)
Mentor or supervisor reflections (lessons, pride, tips)
Awards and certificates (e.g. apprentice of the year, most improved, innovation award)
Networking, site tours or demonstrations
Presentation of future pathways or training plans
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.
