Today, Tuesday, 27th May, SoS Bridget Phillipson and DfE announced that the leaked suggestion of a level 7 apprenticeship funding restriction, making only 16–21-year-olds eligible for funding with effect from January 2026, is now confirmed.

Taken from the released press notice the Government’s position is described as “We’re taking our responsibility seriously providing more routes into employment. It’s now the responsibility of young people to take them. To support this, we are…refocussing funding away from level 7 (masters-level) apprenticeships from January 2026, while maintaining support for those aged 16-21 and existing apprentices. This will enable levy funding to be rebalanced towards training at lower levels, where it can have the greatest impact”.

Clearly the decision will adversely affect all but a very small number of programmes with benefits remaining, for example, for the non-graduate route to solicitor and school and college leavers accessing career opportunities in accountancy and tax.

It is disappointing that this Government places little emphasis on the link between skills and productivity. Our view remains – there is no reason to expect that by reducing level 7 funding eligibility it will make lower levels more attractive to employers or be appropriate to address the real concern about the number of young people not in employment, education or training (NEET). We will maintain the argument that leaving 16–21-year-olds levy fundable will do nothing but harm public sector plans to develop the skills they need and is, in effect, a contradiction to Labour’s Industrial Strategy where it insists there will be “no glass ceiling on the ambitions of young people in Britain”. It would seem that tackling NEETs is now the policy priority at the expense of developing the skills provision needed for a high skill world beating economy. That said, we must focus on new opportunities and maintain our sector’s championship of the remaining high-quality programmes that deliver growth in business, efficiency in public sector services and open up progression routes to professional and managerial occupations. Sadly, for now, we can no longer advocate on behalf of an all age, all level apprenticeship system that is aspirational for everyone.

Alongside another announcements concerning apprenticeships and skills including an already confirmed 13 per cent budget boost, from £2.73 billion in 2024-25 to £3.075 billion in 2025-26 in the apprenticeship budget, the full tally of board members of Skills England was also revealed.

Membership

Phil Smith CBE, Chair
Sir David Bell, Vice Chair **Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of UVAC Member, University of Sunderland**
Dr. Fiona Aldridge, Board member **CEX of UVAC Member, Skills Federation**
Dr. Fazal Dad CBE, Board member
Sian Elliott, Board member
Nicki Hay MBE, Board member
Brian Holliday, Board member
Anthony Impey MBE, Board member
Dame Fiona Kendrick, Board member
Zoe Lewis CBE, Board member
Sara Todd, Board member
Andy Westwood, Board member **Professor of Public Policy at UVAC Member, University of Manchester**
Helen Woodward Davies, Board member
Tessa Griffiths CBE, Chief Executive Officer (jobshare)
Sarah Maclean CBE, Chief Executive Officer (jobshare)
Gemma Marsh, Deputy Chief Executive Officer