Busy Bees creates apprenticeships in Sunderland nurseries

Busy Bees has announced 10 new apprenticeship roles across its nurseries in Sunderland, part of a wider push to bring 500 new apprentices into the organisation nationwide.

The roles will be based at Busy Bees centres in Sunderland Doxford, Ashbrooke, Cleadon, Fulwell, and Ryhope Village.

Emma Langford, European People Director at Busy Bees, said: “Our apprenticeship programme reflects the culture we’re so proud of at Busy Bees – one that is rooted in investing in our people and nurturing future talent.

“We welcome ambitious individuals who want to build a career in early years while making a meaningful difference to children’s lives.

“Our apprentices play a vital role in shaping children’s formative years, and we’re incredibly proud of their dedication, professionalism, and commitment to supporting children’s learning and development.”

Apprentices will work towards Level 2, 3, or 5 qualifications in childcare and education, gaining hands-on experience in the nursery environment.

Successful candidates will be offered a permanent role following completion of the programme and will benefit from employee perks including enhanced family leave, discounted childcare, and pay rates above the National Minimum Wage.

Apprentices will also contribute to delivering Busy Bees’ Bee Curious curriculum, which has been designed to feed children’s natural curiosity and foster a lifelong love of learning.

Emily Mellors, who recently achieved her Level 2 in Childcare and joined Busy Bees as an apprentice in September 2024, said: “I chose to do an apprenticeship at Busy Bees as I’ve always had a passion for working with children since I was a little girl.

“I love watching the children grow in confidence and come into a happy setting.

“I recommend doing an early years apprenticeship because it gives you hands-on experience from the very start, helping you build real skills while you learn.

“It also helps you grow in confidence, communication, and responsibility early on, while earning and gaining a qualification at the same time.

“An apprenticeship can open doors to long-term career opportunities and gives you a strong foundation for working in early years or progressing into further education later on.

“I’m excited to keep on developing my skills with Busy Bees and giving children the best start in life.”

The company currently has more than 1,100 apprentices in training across more than 357 nurseries and has been named among the top five employers in The Sunday Times Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers 2025.

For more details, visit www.busybeeschildcare.co.uk/working-at-busy-bees.