Reforms to the UK's Apprenticeship Framework

• Skills England

The government has created Skills England, a new body that will have partnership with employers at its heart. Skills England will be dedicated to providing more opportunities to learners from all backgrounds and delivering outstanding skills for businesses of all shapes and sizes, right across the country.

Skills England has been established in shadow form within the Department for Education, and it is already taking on its important role in identifying skills gaps and talking to the key organisations that will need to work together to fill them. Skills England will expand this work and take on its additional functions over the coming months as its staffing is built up. IfATE’s functions will be passed to Skills England.

• Maths and English Requirements

The government has amended the English and maths qualification requirements for apprentices. Previously, apprentices were mandated to achieve a Level 2 qualification to complete their programmes.

Under the new regulations, employers now have the discretion to determine if apprentices aged 19 and over possess the necessary English and maths competencies pertinent to their roles, without the obligation of obtaining standalone qualifications. This policy shift aims to remove barriers to apprenticeship completion.

The University supports attempts to break down barriers to apprenticeship achievements and we are currently considering our position on these reforms. Our apprenticeship programmes are subject to strict academic regulations and rigour and with programmes ranging from Level 4 to Level 7, we have a strict requirement for maths and English at Level 2. Several of our apprenticeship programmes also have professional body requirements which stipulate a requirement for apprentices to hold Level 2 maths and English. We are therefore in the process of confirming the University’s position on these changes and will confirm with you at the earliest possible point of any changes to our entry requirements.

• Minimum Duration for Apprenticeships

The minimum duration for apprenticeships has been reduced from 12 months to 8 months, effective August 2025. This adjustment is designed to expedite the training process for occupations with urgent workforce needs, facilitating quicker integration of skilled workers into the labour market. Currently the University does not offer these shorter apprenticeships but we will be keeping a close eye on any further changes to standards.

• Level 7 Apprenticeships

Regarding Level 7 apprenticeships that are equivalent to master’s degree qualifications, there is ongoing discussion about potential funding limitations. The government has indicated plans to restrict the use of apprenticeship levy funds for these higher-level programs, aiming to encourage investment in lower-level apprenticeships. Business groups have expressed concerns that such restrictions could impede the upskilling of mid to senior-level employees, which is vital for leadership development in sectors like AI, digital and green industries. There is no confirmed update at this point from the government but we will keep you updated.

• Growth and Skills Levy

Planned changes will see the Apprenticeship Levy become a Growth and Skills Levy to allow employers to access a wider range of training with their funding (not just apprenticeships).

We are waiting on confirmation of the new growth and skills levy and detail of exactly how and what the levy can be spent on. The University will support employers to work with the new levy and utilise it in the best way to plug skills gaps within their organisation.

For more information about these topics and any other concerns you may have, please don't hesitate to reach out to the Apprenticeships Services Unit by emailing apprenticeships@salford.ac.uk.