Shorter apprenticeships
EmployerThis article sits within the Employer sectionFrom 1 August 2025, subject to the legislative timetable, the minimum duration of an apprenticeship will reduce to 8 months.
This change means apprentices will be able to achieve occupational competence more quickly, where that makes sense, for example because they have significant prior learning, or their industry works to a different rhythm.
Shorter apprenticeships will particularly benefit:
- apprentices who have significant prior learning, where the 12-month rule means they are currently ineligible to upskill through an apprenticeship
- apprenticeships where full competence can normally be delivered more quickly
Working with Skills England and individual trailblazers, we are changing the typical duration of some standards to below 12 months, to reflect that competence will normally be delivered more quickly in future, including:
- Level 2 Healthcare Support Workers (Health and Social Care)
- Level 3 Production Assistants - Screen and Audio (Creative and Design)
- Level 2 Dual Fuel Smart Meter Installers (Construction and the Built Environment)
- Level 6 Postgraduate Teacher (Education and Early Years)
Other apprenticeship standards will be able to make use of this flexibility where it makes sense for that employer, industry or apprentice, but as now, most apprenticeships will be delivered over a longer period.
All apprenticeships will continue to deliver strong outcomes and be subject to a range of quality controls, including Ofsted inspection of providers, a mandated minimum number of off-the-job learning hours and rigorous but proportionate assessment arrangements.
We will continue to work with employers and Skills England to identify where the flexibility provided by shorter apprenticeships will create further opportunities to meet the country’s skills needs.
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