Three years at the top: Connect2Care celebrates national apprenticeship award
Jul 22 2026
Connect2Care is celebrating after The Opportunity Provider was named Apprenticeship Provider of the Year for the third consecutive year.
The Opportunity Provider Ltd (TOP), the parent organisation of Connect2Care, has been crowned Apprenticeship Provider of the Year at the 2026 British Training Awards.
It is the organisation’s third consecutive victory in the category and its first major award since transitioning from HIT Training Ltd to The Opportunity Provider.
The award attracted competition from across the UK, with a record 423 entries submitted to the British Training Awards in 2026. For Connect2Care, the recognition celebrates the people creating life-changing opportunities through apprenticeships across adult care, early years and funeral services.
Training people who care for others
These are some of society’s most vital sectors. Every day, the people working within them support individuals, children, families and communities during important moments in their lives.
However, the sectors also face significant challenges around recruitment, retention, skills development and career progression.
Connect2Care works alongside employers to address these challenges through training that is personal, practical and purposeful. Its programmes help people build confidence, strengthen their professional skills and understand the difference they make through their work.
Its trainers bring real sector experience to every programme. They understand the realities of learners’ roles and can connect training to the situations, responsibilities and challenges they face each day.
This makes learning relevant and immediately useful, while giving apprentices the confidence and knowledge to take the next step in their careers.
Clear pathways and specialist expertise
Connect2Care’s structured apprenticeship pathways support people from entry-level positions through to specialist and leadership roles.
Its provision includes distinctive programmes such as the Early Years Chef pathway and the UK’s only national funeral service apprenticeship programmes. Training is tailored around the needs of each employer, helping organisations improve skills, strengthen retention and build confident, capable teams.
This approach is delivering a measurable impact. Connect2Care’s latest employer feedback shows that 98% believe their employees are gaining the knowledge and skills needed for their next steps, while 96% say apprentices have made a positive difference to their organisation.
Behind this work is an ownership model that puts people at the heart of the business. The Opportunity Provider operates as an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT), meaning colleagues have a genuine stake in its future and share in its success. This supports a long-term commitment to quality, stability and meaningful partnerships.
It also strengthens TOP’s focus on inclusion and social mobility. Connect2Care is committed to removing barriers to learning, supporting people with additional needs and making career-building opportunities accessible to learners from every background.
Mike Worley, Managing Director of The Opportunity Provider Ltd, said:
“This award celebrates the extraordinary commitment of our colleagues, learners and employer partners.
“Through Connect2Care, we support people working in sectors that make a profound difference to individuals, families and communities. Our trainers understand those sectors because they have worked within them, bringing experience, empathy and credibility to every learner’s journey.
“Operating as an Employee Ownership Trust means our people are genuinely invested in our future and in the quality of the training we deliver. Winning this award for the third consecutive year is something of which we can all be incredibly proud.”
The winners were announced at a special celebration held at the Grand Connaught Rooms in Covent Garden, London.
For Connect2Care, the award is more than a moment of recognition. It strengthens its determination to keep developing confident people, building stronger services and creating opportunities that change lives.
