Streamlining apprenticeships
Training providerWe are investing an additional £725m in the Growth and Skills Levy to support 50,000 more young people into apprenticeships and give employers greater flexibility to address critical skills gaps.
These changes will enable more young people to access apprenticeships and allow the introduction of new products, including foundation apprenticeships and apprenticeship units.
Why changes are being made
Over the past 10 years, apprenticeship starts among 16-24 year olds have fallen by 40%. We’ve seen an increase in older apprentices from less disadvantaged backgrounds studying at higher levels, that are also, on average, more expensive.
The apprenticeship offer has grown to more than 700 apprenticeship standards. To ensure funding is directed at the highest priority skills challenges, funding for several standards will be withdrawn from September 2026.
Standards where funding is being withdrawn
Funding will be withdrawn from the following 16 standards from September 2026:
- Chartered Manager (degree) – Level 6
- Cleaning Hygiene Operative – Level 2
- Coaching Professional – Level 5
- Custody and Detention Professional – Level 3
- Facilities Management Supervisor – Level 3
- Improvement Leader – Level 6
- Improvement Practitioner – Level 4
- Lead Practitioner in Adult Care – Level 4
- Learning and Skills Assessor – Level 3
- Learning and Skills Mentor – Level 4
- Operations Manager – Level 5
- Outdoor Learning Specialist – Level 5
- Professional Security Operative – Level 2
- Public Sector Compliance Investigator and Officer – Level 3
- Security First Line Manager – Level 3
- Team Leader – Level 3
Transition Arrangements
We recognise some training providers will be more significantly impacted by these changes and will be communicating directly with them about transition arrangements. All training providers will receive written confirmation of their individual transition arrangements, including start limits for each affected standard.
Proportionate controls on starts will be introduced during the notice period. These controls are in line with the funding agreement and are designed to support stability for learners, employers and the wider programme.
Start limits will be set proportionately, based on recent delivery volumes for each affected standard. This ensures a consistent approach across all training providers and helps to prevent a surge in recruitment ahead of defunding.
Training providers that are not currently delivering a defunded standard will not be permitted to start new delivery of that standard during the notice period.
Existing learners
There will be no change for existing learners. They will be able to continue and complete their apprenticeship, and funding will be maintained to support completion.
Training providers should continue to deliver, assess and prepare their existing learners for assessment as normal.
Private funding
The standards being defunded will remain available for employers to fund privately if they wish. Government co-funding will not be provided for these standards after the defunding date.
National Insurance exemptions for eligible apprentices under the age of 25 will continue for privately-funded apprentices.
Ongoing review
Apprenticeship standards will continue to be reviewed with employers and Skills England, alongside the rollout of new apprenticeship units and the next wave of foundation apprenticeships.
Further information
Further details will be included in the apprenticeship funding rules, which will be published on GOV.UK soon, along with additional details on foundation and apprenticeship units on the Skills England website.
Training providers with questions about their individual transition arrangements should await written communication, which will set out specific details and next steps.
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