This week, B&Q hosted its annual apprenticeship graduation, spotlighting the impact of its Women in Leadership apprenticeship, which has played a key role in empowering female talent across the business.
For the first time, women now make up more than half (56%) of B&Q’s apprenticeship programme, reflecting our commitments to offering all colleagues equal access to opportunities to progress in their careers and to reaching gender parity across all work levels.
The two-day event celebrated more than 300 colleagues who completed apprenticeships across the business, including participants from B&Q’s Women in Leadership apprenticeship. Built by members of B&Q’s Women in Leadership Curriculum Council, the apprenticeship is designed by women to help women navigate topics often overlooked in traditional leadership training, from menopause to fertility journeys.
Angela Peel, curriculum council member and unit manager at B&Q said: “When updating B&Q’s Women in Leadership apprenticeship, we wanted to truly reflect the experiences of women. By building real-life issues – like menopause – into the heart of the programme, we created space for women to connect, share, and grow together.”
Katie Bauman, graduate apprentice and unit manager at B&Q said: “In the past, some leadership content didn’t quite speak to women’s experiences – especially in male-dominated areas where imposter syndrome can be a real challenge. What makes this apprenticeship different is how openly it tackles these barriers – it’s about helping women be at their best, while recognising that our journeys can be different.”
Since inception, over 2,500 B&Q colleagues have completed or are undertaking an apprenticeship, with around 400 employees set to begin own apprenticeships next year, as B&Q continues to expand its offering to more than 40 apprenticeship options covering all levels, from 2 to 7.
This year’s newly qualified apprentices graduated at a special ceremony at B&Q House, co-hosted by Paddy Earnshaw (Retail, Property & Technology Director) and Andy Moat (People Director), with Olympic ski jumper, Eddie “The Eagle” Edwards, also in attendance as guest speaker.
Andy Moat, people director at B&Q, said: “Apprenticeships play a vital role in developing the skills and confidence of our colleagues across the business. We’re incredibly proud to see so many people graduating and taking the next step in their careers and even prouder that our programmes reflect the diversity, talent, and ambition of our teams. We’re particularly proud of the opportunity’s apprenticeships, like the Women in Leadership apprenticeship, creates to help us reach gender parity across all work levels. Supporting colleagues to grow and reach their potential is at the heart of what we do at B&Q.”
B&Q continues to invest heavily in colleague learning and development, earning a place among the Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers in the UK. The retailer’s apprenticeship programme is open to all colleagues, regardless of age, background, or location, making it one of the most inclusive schemes in the country.
