Dr Mandy Crawford-Lee, UVAC Chief Executive UVAC, has been confirmed as a keynote speaker at the Westminster Higher Education Forum seminar, Next Steps for Degree Apprenticeships in England, on 15 May. Her keynote will contribute to the conference’s examination of recent policy developments, funding reforms and the future direction of degree apprenticeships within England’s higher education and skills system.

Hosted online the conference sets out to discuss the future for degree apprenticeships in England and brings together stakeholders and policymakers to examine implications of recent developments on the purpose, scale and sustainability of degree apprenticeships at Levels 6 and 7.

The conference programme examines recent and forthcoming reforms shaping degree and higher-level apprenticeships, including updated apprenticeship funding rules for 2025–26, restrictions on public funding for most new Level 7 apprenticeships from January 2026, and the introduction of the Growth and Skills Levy. During the day delegates will have the opportunity to explore how new levy flexibilities from April 2026—allowing funding for shorter and modular training in priority areas such as AI, digital and engineering—alongside the creation of Skills England as the system oversight and assessment reform body, are influencing employer commissioning, provider delivery models, and the long-term sustainability of advanced professional and technical routes. Discussion will also situate degree apprenticeships within the wider post-18 skills landscape, including links to higher technical qualifications, professional accreditation, and modular learning.

A core focus of the event will be the implications of these changes for access, participation, quality and regional capacity. Sessions will consider the early impact of Level 7 funding reforms on learner participation, inclusive recruitment and progression pathways, and the ability of SMEs and public service employers to sustain investment. Delegates will assess how universities and employers can strengthen partnerships, maintain specialist provision, and align programmes with regional priorities through Local Skills Improvement Plans while meeting national standards. Further discussions will address modular and micro-credential pathways, balancing employer-specific and transferable skills, assessment reform under Skills England, and maintaining employer confidence. 

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