The UK organisations Gen Z most aspire to work for after leaving school have been revealed in a major new survey launched to mark National Apprenticeship Week.
Based on insights from more than 50,000 students, the ranking offers a powerful snapshot of the employers shaping Gen Z ambition at the earliest stage of career decision-making, when young people are weighing up options including apprenticeships, school leaver programmes and further study.
The Young Professionals Top 100 2026 reveals that Magic Circle law firm Clifford Chance is the number one employer young people most aspire to work for, followed by Big Four firms PwC and KPMG in second and third place.
Completing the top ten are Slaughter and May, UBS, J.P. Morgan, Linklaters, Browne Jacobson, Lloyds Banking Group and Goldman Sachs, highlighting the continued strength of professional services and finance in shaping early career ambitions.
The rankings indicate that young people continue to value employers associated with structured training, clear pathways and strong reputations for progression.
The results point to several interesting shifts. Notably, a law firm ranks first ahead of the usual early-careers powerhouses in professional services, indicating that legal careers are increasingly perceived as accessible and aspirational via structured entry routes.
The presence of Browne Jacobson in the top ten is also significant, with the firm ranking ahead of several larger international brands underlining the impact of employer visibility and early careers engagement.
Meanwhile, the NHS ranks outside the top 20, despite its size and national importance, which may reflect young people’s perceptions of pay, pressure and long-term progression compared with private sector pathways. The Royal Air Force also ranks above Rolls-Royce, while major consumer technology brands such as Apple, Microsoft and Nvidia appear lower down the list than might be expected form young people, suggesting they may prioritise employers with clear UK school leaver programmes and entry routes over global ‘dream brands’.
Founder of Young Professionals UK, Dan Miller, currently appearing on BBC One’s The Apprentice, said: “National Apprenticeship Week is about celebrating the opportunities available to young people and shining a light on the employers creating real pathways into successful careers.
“The YP Top 100 2026 shows that Gen Z are ambitious, informed and thinking carefully about their futures. They want to work for organisations that offer structured training, long-term progression and the chance to build meaningful careers straight after school.
“Apprenticeships are a vital part of that journey, helping young people earn, learn and gain real-world experience while developing skills that employers need.”
The survey also includes sector breakdowns from Young Professionals, highlighting the organisations young people most aspire to work for across law, banking and finance, professional services, and STEM.
In law, the leading firms include Clifford Chance, Slaughter and May, Linklaters, Browne Jacobson and Freshfields. In banking, finance and fintech, the top-ranked organisations include UBS, J.P. Morgan, Lloyds Banking Group, Goldman Sachs and HSBC.
In accounting and professional services, the most aspirational employers include PwC, KPMG, BDO, Deloitte and RSM. In STEM, young people identify Amazon, Google, the Royal Air Force, Rolls-Royce and Spectris as the organisations they most want to work for.
Young Professionals UK has grown into one of the largest school leaver networks in the country, with more than 600,000 young people accessing its services. The organisation helps connect students with alternative pathways into careers, enabling young people to engage directly with employers through industry events, work experience opportunities and apprenticeships.
The company works with around 70 major employers and partners with 4,000 schools across the UK and Ireland.
More than 20,000 students attended Young Professionals events during the October half-term alone, according to the organisation. Last year, it hosted its largest ever event, welcoming more than 3,000 students to The O2 in London.
The sold-out event featured panel discussions with leaders from the Royal Air Force, the University of Law, Grant Thornton and Freshfields, alongside networking opportunities with 20 major recruiters.
