As one of the UK’s leading outdoor clothing and equipment businesses, the Regatta Group brings together Regatta Great Outdoors, Craghoppers, Dare2b and Regatta Professional, combining strong global reach with deep roots in Manchester. While the organisation operates at scale across international markets, its approach to people, skills and development remains personal, value-driven and firmly future-focused.
The Growth Company is proud to partner the Group in developing apprentices across the business, helping to build a strong, sustainable talent pipeline while enabling individuals to grow meaningful careers within a major international employer.
With a head office in Trafford Park, Manchester, the Group employs over 2200 people across the UK, CEE and ROW with offices in the Netherlands, Italy, Germany and Poland.
Why Apprenticeships Matter at Regatta Group
The Regatta Group began formally embedding apprenticeships into its workforce development strategy in 2017, with a clear objective to grow talent from within and address skills gaps in a sustainable long-term way.
By investing in apprentices, the business focuses on people and potential rather than just roles. Apprentices bring fresh perspectives, curiosity and new ways of thinking - supporting innovation and reinforcing the organisation's entrepreneurial culture. In return, the Group offers hands-on experience, structured learning and strong mentoring within a supportive environment.
Apprenticeships have also enabled the business to:
- Build a reliable talent pipeline for entry-level and early-career roles
- Improve staff retention by investing in development
- Strengthen internal capability long-term
- Develop managers and leaders internally through mentoring responsibilities
- Embed company values and culture from the outset
Importantly, apprentices are not only learning - they are also contributing in meaningful ways across the business.
Working with the Growth Company, the Regatta Group currently delivers apprenticeships across key business functions, including HR, business administration and finance. Their HR apprentices act as a first point of contact for employee queries, supporting onboarding, recruitment activity and essential people processes. Their Business Administration and Marketing apprentices assist with campaign co-ordination and internal communications, bringing organisation and fresh ideas to fast-paced teams, while finance apprentices work in assistant accountant roles, supporting month-end processes, statutory reporting and compliance. All apprentices supported to date have successfully completed their programmes and progressed into permanent roles, strengthening the Group’s long-term talent pipeline.
For the Regatta Group, apprenticeships are not just about training - they are about investing in the future. As the business continues to grow, apprenticeships remain central to developing talent, supporting progression and building long-term capability.
Clare Grimshaw, Senior Marketing Manager for Craghoppers took on Dearbhla on a Business Administration apprenticeship in August 2024.
“Having once been an apprentice myself, I was keen to recruit a role for our busy department. We really needed someone who could hit the ground running and with the right training and support and despite changes within the department, Dearbhla has blossomed, taking on more responsibility and enjoying doing so. We were so proud when she passed her apprenticeship with distinction and delighted she is staying on to further develop in her role.”
National Apprenticeship Week provides an opportunity to celebrate the impact apprentices are having across organisations like Regatta and highlight how apprenticeships can benefit businesses of all sizes.
If you'd like to find out more information about our apprenticeship programmes, get in touch.