Skills For Life. For Employment. For Everyone.
This week is National Apprenticeship Week 2026 (NAW26). In a world that’s changing faster than ever, one truth remains constant: life rewards those who can adapt, connect, and grow.
Degrees, titles, and technical expertise matter – but they’re no longer enough on their own. What truly empowers people to thrive in work, relationships, and society are Skills for Life (a key theme this National Apprenticeship Week) and they are for everyone.
These are not exclusive skills reserved for executives, entrepreneurs, or high achievers. They are human skills. Transferable. Learnable. And essential at every stage of life.
What are Skills for Life?
Skills for Life are the abilities that help us navigate real-world challenges – at home, at work, and within our communities. They shape how we think, how we communicate, and how we respond to change.
At the heart of these capabilities are Power Skills (often called soft skills, though they are anything but soft). Power skills drive performance, well-being, and long-term success across all professions and life roles.
Core power skills everyone needs
Communication
The ability to express ideas clearly, listen actively, and engage respectfully is foundational. Strong communication reduces conflict, builds trust, and strengthens relationships – whether you’re leading a team, collaborating with peers, or supporting family members.
Emotional intelligence
Understanding your emotions – and recognizing those of others – allows you to respond thoughtfully rather than react impulsively. Emotional intelligence fuels empathy, self-awareness, and emotional regulation.
Critical thinking and problem-solving
Life rarely comes with clear instructions. Critical thinking helps you analyse situations, evaluate options, and make informed decisions, even under pressure.
Adaptability and learning agility
Change is inevitable. Adaptability is the power skill that allows you to adjust, reskill, and stay relevant – no matter what the future brings.
Collaboration and teamwork
No one succeeds alone. The ability to work with diverse people, respect different perspectives, and contribute meaningfully to a group is essential in every environment.
Self-management and discipline
Managing time, energy, priorities, and stress is a lifelong skill. Self-management helps you stay focused, balanced, and accountable.
Resilience and grit
Setbacks are part of life. Resilience is the ability to recover, learn, and move forward – stronger than before.
At the RNN Group, we offer learners the chance to develop their Power Skills through our Skills for Employment initiative. You can learn more about this by watching this recent webinar on Skills for Employment.
NAW26: Celebrating skills that last a lifetime
NAW26 (National Apprenticeship Week 2026) provides a powerful platform to spotlight not just technical training, but the Skills for Life that apprenticeships uniquely develop.
Apprenticeships are more than a pathway into employment – they are a real-world classroom where power skills are built every day. Through hands-on experience, mentoring, and meaningful work, learners develop:
- Confidence through responsibility
- Communication through collaboration
- Resilience by learning from real challenges
- Adaptability by working in dynamic environments
- Professional identity and self-belief
NAW26 is an opportunity to reframe success: not as a single route or qualification, but as a combination of technical competence and human capability.
Why NAW26 matters for everyone
- Young people gain Skills for Life alongside qualifications.
- Career changers build confidence, adaptability, and relevance.
- Employers develop future-ready talent with strong power skills.
- Communities benefit from inclusive, practical learning pathways.
NAW26 reinforces a critical message: Skills development is not one-size-fits-all, and learning does not stop at the classroom door.
Skills for life are a lifelong commitment
Whether developed through apprenticeships, education, work, or life experience, power skills grow through practice. Every conversation, challenge, and opportunity is a chance to strengthen them.
As we celebrate NAW26, we also celebrate something bigger – the idea that everyone deserves access to Skills for Life, and that these skills unlock confidence, opportunity, and long-term success.
Find out more about apprenticeships at RNN Group
Learn about RNN Group’s apprenticeship scheme for employers