This is National Apprenticeship Week, when we celebrate the life-changing opportunities that apprenticeships offer people up and down this country. I want to update the House on a range of steps that this Government are taking to introduce the greater flexibility in our apprenticeships system that learn to break down barriers to opportunity and boost economic growth.
First, we have confirmed today that we will be changing the rules relating to achievement of English and maths qualifications as part of an apprenticeship for over-19s. Upskilling in English and maths will continue to remain a key feature of all apprenticeships, and from today we have listened to employers and will be offering more flexibility over when a stand-alone qualification is required in addition to this.
All apprentices will be required to secure, and will be assessed on, the job-specific skills—English and maths—that they need. But, moving forward, employers will have more flexibility over whether adult apprentices—over-19s—are required to achieve a stand-alone English and maths qualifications. In future, adult apprentices will be able to complete their apprenticeship if they have demonstrated that they have the skills—including relevant English and maths skills—to be effective in the role without undertaking a stand-alone English and maths qualification. All 16 to 18-year-old apprentices will continue to be required and funded to secure up to a level 2 qualification in English and maths if they do not hold one, consistent with our expectation that all young people should have a meaningful further opportunity to secure a level 2 qualification in English and maths post 16. This delivers the flexibility that employers have long called for, and we expect it to lead to thousands more qualified apprentices in a range of key sectors, including in social care and construction.
Secondly, we will reduce the minimum duration of apprenticeships to eight months from August 2025. This new flexibility will mean that employers can make greater use of apprenticeships and learners can be fully trained more quickly. We expect this new flexibility to particularly benefit learners with high levels of prior learning, where the current 12-month requirement means they are not eligible for an apprenticeship; and particular occupations that do not typically work in fixed 12-month training cycles. We will be working closely with Skills England to identify where this new flexibility will have the greatest impact. Today we are announcing that the first shorter apprenticeships to be available to all apprentices will be in priority occupations, including healthcare support workers, dual fuel smart meter installers, and production assistants in the creative industries. We will be setting out more details in due course.
Finally, in our next step towards establishing Skills England as the key driving force behind this Government’s growth plans, I am confirming that the new chair of Skills England will be Phil Smith CBE, with Sir David Bell serving as vice-chair.
This team will bring together extensive industry experience in digital, tech and innovation, with decades of experience in the education and skills sector. They will work with employers, with national, regional and local government, and with providers and unions, to identify skills shortages and provide strong strategic direction for the skills system, ensuring that we have the highly skilled workforce needed to deliver our industrial strategy and the Government’s plan for change. I look forward to working with them to deliver the dynamic skills system and economic growth that this country needs to thrive.
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