Flexibility over requirements to boost apprentice numbers

1 10,000 more apprentices
2 National Apprenticeship Week 2025
3 New nationwide body Skills England
4 Comments and reactions by the team
5 CIAT responds to apprenticeships provision
6 ECA comments on the Apprenticeship Levy
7 Related articles on Designing Buildings

[edit] 10,000 more apprentices

As Government slashes red tape to boost growth with shorter and flexible apprenticeships and new English and maths requirements to boost skills and support employers

Up to 10,000 more apprentices will be able to qualify per year as the government cuts red tape to boost economic growth by giving employers more flexibility over maths and English requirements. Rules slowing down the training of workers in key industries like construction will also be changed as the government reveals plans to turbocharge growth industries with reduced bureaucracy for apprenticeships and new leadership also appointed for Skills England.

Leading employers have been calling for these changes. Businesses will now be able to decide whether adult learners over the age of 19 when they start their apprenticeship course will need to complete a level 2 English and maths qualification (equivalent to GCSE) in order to pass it. This means more learners can qualify in high demand sectors such as healthcare, social care and construction, helping to drive growth and meet government targets in key areas such as housebuilding.

The 10,000 more apprentices able to complete their apprenticeship, helps unlock opportunity in communities all over the country and breaking the link between background and success.It does not mean that apprentices won’t be assessed on core English and maths skills relevant to their occupation, but it does mean that apprentices will be able to focus more on their paid work.

The minimum duration of an apprenticeship will be reduced to eight months, down from the current minimum of 12 months.

[edit] National Apprenticeship Week 2025

These announcements came as the Education Secretary kicked off National Apprenticeship Week on Monday 10 February, celebrating the achievements of apprentices around the country and the positive impact they make to communities, businesses, and the wider economy. The plans also follow the Prime Minister’s announcement in September, when he pledged to reform the new growth and skills offer to ensure young people are better supported.

Three trailblazer apprenticeships in key shortage occupations will look to pioneer the new shorter apprenticeship approach, with apprentices in green energy, healthcare and film/TV production set to be able to take on these new courses. Changes to the minimum length of an apprenticeship will be introduced from August 2025 subject to the legislative timetable, with changes to English and maths requirements coming into effect immediately. This will be hugely beneficial to employers in sectors like construction which have an urgent need for qualified workers, helping to meet the government’s mission to build 1.5 million homes by the end of this parliament.

[edit] New nationwide body Skills England

The Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, has also announced that Phil Smith CBE will chair Skills England, the new nationwide body for skills, with Sir David Bell serving as Vice Chair. Tessa Griffiths and Sarah Maclean will jointly serve as CEO, while Gemma Marsh will serve as Deputy CEO. Phil Smith is the former chair and CEO of international tech and telecoms giant Cisco. He brings extensive industry experience in digital, tech and innovation leadership and his appointment signals the seriousness of the government’s plan for growth, unlocked via a national vision for skills.Sir David Bell has four decades of experience in the education and skills sector and is currently Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of the University of Sunderland

Skills England will bring together key partners to meet the skills needs of the next decade across all regions of England. More than 700 stakeholders have already been engaged through roundtables, webinars and engagement events. It will work with employers, national, regional and local government, providers, and unions to identify skills shortages and provide strong strategic direction for the skills system.

One of Skills England’s first orders of business will be to identify which apprenticeships would be best served by the shorter duration approach. Skills England will prioritise key shortage occupations as per the industrial strategy, helping to boost growth under our Plan for Change.

[edit] Comments and reactions by the team

Secretary of State for Education, Bridget Phillipson said:

"Growing the economy and opportunity for all are fundamental Missions of our Plan for Change, and we are determined to support apprentices throughout this National Apprenticeship Week and beyond. Businesses have been calling out for change to the apprenticeship system and these reforms show that we are listening. Our new offer of shorter apprenticeships and less red tape strikes the right balance between speed and quality, helping achieve our number one mission to grow the economy.Skills England will be a major driver in addressing the skills gaps needed to support employers up and down the country and I look forward to working with the new leadership."

Craig Beaumont, Executive Director, Federation of Small Businesses said:

"It’s encouraging to see Government shorten the length of apprenticeships, and give employers the right to decide whether Level 2 English and Maths is needed. These flexibilities should help SME employers fill skills gaps faster. "

Phil Smith CBE said:

"I know from my time in industry how valuable direct engagement from employers can be in shaping government policy. We need a dynamic skills system that can drive economic growth, and I’m excited to be involved in shaping Skills England as part of that."

Sir David Bell said:

"I look forward to working with Phil Smith, other colleagues in Skills England, and the Department for Education to help deliver economic growth and meet the nation’s skills needs. I know from my experience in public policy and higher education that providing the skilled workforce which Britain requires depends on industry, government and education organisations working together. I am very confident therefore that Skills England will provide the strategic oversight to make that happen."

[edit] CIAT responds to apprenticeships provision

Eddie Weir PCIAT, CIAT President, said:

"The UK's built environment sector is facing major skills shortages across all professions, and demand is only growing as we look to modernise existing buildings and deliver 1.5 million new homes. Expanding apprenticeship provision is a great way to enable more people to learn the practical skills they need for a rewarding career while helping close these fundamental skills gaps."

"It remains vitally important that each apprentice is given the opportunity to develop core skills in maths and English, which are essential both to future career success, and to participating in society. However, this new, more flexible approach will allow employers and apprentices to work together to ensure that appropriate skills are developed in a way that best meets the needs of all involved and in turn, breaking down some of the barriers that have hindered the involvement of talented people within our sector."

"We also look forward to seeing the new, accelerated apprenticeship model in action, as a stepping stone to building the workforce of the future."

[edit] ECA comments on the Apprenticeship Levy

Commenting on the Apprenticeship levy, Andrew Eldred, ECA’s Chief Operations Officer was quoted as saying: “The levy funds pay for the training apprentices are required to do but they don’t support the employment and recruitment of these workers. These costs are easily absorbed by a big company but, of course, it’s more of a challenge for small businesses.

“It feels like there’s sometimes a tendency, at the governmental level, to look at small employers taking on apprentices as altruism. Actually, it’s an economic exchange with wider financial effects. Small businesses are only going to continue signing up to this system if there’s a return on their investment.”

Andrews comments appear in the article ‘The system is broken’: How George Osborne’s apprenticeship dream fell apart' published by the Telegraph, 12 Februrary, 2025.

This article was issued via Press Release as '10,000 more apprentices as Government slashes red tape to boost growth' and on the CIAT news site as 'CIAT responds to UK Government's plans to expand apprenticeships provision' dated 11 February 2025