The Challenge could be physical (i.e., building/decorating) but could also be more admin based (event planning, fundraising, awareness raising, educating). The Challenge will run from August - March with the final event taking place during Scottish Apprenticeship Week in March 2027. Learn more about the benefits below.
For Apprentices
Is the Challenge suitable for you?
Open to companies with one or more apprentices (Foundation, Modern, or Graduate).
We welcome 3 different types of ‘teams’ to participate in the Challenge:
- Individuals
- Company Teams
- Blended teams (Blended teams could be made up of students from the same course at College)
This challenge is not only an opportunity to build your personal profile, but also to utilise the skills you have learned as an apprentice and adapt those skills to benefit the community. This can take you out of your comfort zone of ‘what you are used to’, but hopefully this is as rewarding as it is beneficial to your skill set. DYW Ayrshire will offer a series of optional workshops to support apprentices throughout the Challenge. See more below.
Timeline
What is the timeline and workshop dates?
The 2026-27 Challenge will launch on Monday 22nd June 2026.
Key Dates:
- Monday 20th July 2026 – Deadline for Registration
- August- January 2026 – Completion of project
- Tuesday 1st September 2026 – Optional Team building workshop
- Thursday 24th September 2026 – Optional Leadership workshop
- Wednesday 25th November 2026 – Optional Report/Portfolio workshop
- Wednesday 20th January 2027 – Optional Presentation Skills workshop
- Friday 29th January 2027 (no later than 5pm)– Portfolio Submission Deadline
- W/C Monday 1st March 2027 (Exact date TBC) – Final Event during Scottish Apprenticeship Week
Benefits to apprentices:
-Opportunity to showcase your skills in a different way
-Participate in training workshop for presentation skills
-Gain project management, problem solving, presentations and teambuilding skills
-Chance to network with other local apprentices
For Employers
Why should your business sign up?
If you are an employer, this challenge is an opportunity to showcase the talent at your organisation and give back to the local community from a corporate perspective. Not only will your apprentices experience a learning curve outside of their ‘usual’ work tasks, but they will develop their soft skills in communication with various stakeholder and pick up some other skills along the way – such as financial management and community engagement.
Benefits to employers:
-Allows you to give your apprentices a new challenge to participate in.
-Apprentices gain experience in project management, problem solving, presentations and teambuilding
-Opportunity to promote your business on social media
-Give back to your local community
-Showcase the talent of your apprentice to other Ayrshire businesses