Former Harlow MP Robert Halfon slams government decision over apprenticeships
Business / Tue 27th May 2025 at 08:58am
PUBLIC funding for level 7 apprenticeships will be removed for people aged 22 and older from January 2026, the government has confirmed reports FE Weekly.
From the new year, employers will only be able to use the apprenticeship levy to fund the master’s level courses for existing apprentices and new starters up to age 21, as first reported by FE Week earlier this month.
The Department for Education (DfE) said today the reforms “rebalance” the apprenticeship budget “towards training at lower levels, where it can have the greatest impact”.
It comes as part of a bundle of skills announcements, including 45,000 “domestic” training places funded through the immigration skills charge, a boost to the apprenticeship budget and £132 million for skills bootcamps in “priority sectors”.
Appointments to the board of Skills England are also expected today.
Education secretary Bridget Phillipson said: “A skilled workforce is the key to steering the economy forward, and today we’re backing the next generation by giving young people more opportunities to learn a trade, earn a wage and achieve and thrive.”
The controversial cut to level 7 apprenticeships has been trailed for months, with prime minister Keir Starmer first announcing plans for the restrictions last September alongside shortened apprenticeships and new foundation-level programmes.
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Matthew Gillman
2025-05-27 14:42:18
Level 7 is Master's degree level. Most people starting a Master's are aged 21+!
Seamus
2025-05-27 14:53:25
It would seem odd that Labour would cap the ages for U.K. youth for U.K. apprenticeships at 21, whilst the same time on the "brexit reset's" new name of "Youth xperience Scheme" (formerly Erasmus), allows people from the eu upto the age of 30 to come into the U.K. and apply for apprenticeships. Mind you, this is the same labour government who told U.K. business's that they needed to increase their employee national insurance contributions but in The Indian deal, told indians who come to the U.K. to work that they will not have to pay any national insurance at all, for the first 3 years of employment. Labour really does hate the people of the U.K.
David Forman
2025-05-27 17:08:45
At a time when the government aim to improve the quality of management in the NHS and other public services the FE Week article says: "The senior leader level 7 apprenticeship, which the Chartered Management Institute claims is largely taken by professionals in the NHS, education and civil service, has less than 1 per cent of starts for those aged under 25."
David Forman
2025-05-27 17:10:51
Consequently, Robert Halfon is quite right to be critical of this latest Labour cut.
Kim
2025-05-29 09:02:04
Mr Halton is spot on. Who puts ages on Education. I went back to college in my 30s. Lots of people decide in later life they want a different direction. That's labour s thinking, makes no sense as usual.
Adrienne
2025-06-09 06:13:31
What have they scrapped the funding for level 7 for(I think I have that right). Considering how badly we need our own young adults to learn skills. Also,older adults that already have the skills and need perhaps a refresher course. I am telling you LABOUR this is a serious mistake. Everyone needs hands on experience. How on earth will they get the chance and the confidence, ability to know they have completed their work to a 5 Star quality .
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