The UK government has announced sweeping reforms to the apprenticeship system, aiming to create up to 10,000 additional apprenticeship opportunities each year by cutting bureaucracy and giving employers greater control over training requirements.
In a move designed to accelerate economic growth, businesses will now have more flexibility in determining whether adult apprentices (aged 19+) need a Level 2 English and maths qualification (GCSE equivalent) to complete their training. The changes are expected to benefit high-demand industries such as construction, healthcare, and social care.
One of the most significant reforms is the reduction of the minimum apprenticeship duration from 12 months to just 8 months, allowing skilled workers to enter key industries more quickly. Employers will also have a greater say in tailoring training to job-specific skills, rather than being bound by rigid qualification requirements.
The reforms, announced during National Apprenticeship Week, are part of the government’s wider strategy to bridge the UK’s skills gap and meet economic growth targets. Three “trailblazer” apprenticeships—in green energy, healthcare, and film/TV production—will pilot the new shorter training format, ensuring businesses can quickly access the talent they need.
Secretary of State for Education, Bridget Phillipson, highlighted the importance of responding to business needs: “Businesses have been calling out for change to the apprenticeship system, and these reforms show that we are listening. Our new offer of shorter apprenticeships and less red tape strikes the right balance between speed and quality, helping achieve our number one mission to grow the economy.”
The business community has broadly welcomed the reforms, praising them as a step towards a more flexible and responsive apprenticeship system.
Sheila Flavell CBE, COO of FDM Group, emphasised the importance of apprenticeships in addressing skills shortages: “The government’s investment in apprenticeships is vital to creating a high-skilled and productive UK workforce, plugging the growing skills gap. With the rapid adoption of AI across industry, apprenticeships enable businesses to build a workforce tailored to their specific data and analytics needs.”
She also highlighted the role of apprenticeships in supporting diversity, saying: “Successful apprenticeship schemes rely on tapping into underrepresented talent pools who hold unique, transferable skill sets to tackle specific challenges.”
As part of its broader skills strategy, the government has appointed Phil Smith CBE, former CEO of Cisco, as Chair of Skills England, with Sir David Bell as Vice Chair. The leadership team will also include Tessa Griffiths and Sarah Maclean as Co-CEOs, with Gemma Marsh as Deputy CEO.
The new leadership team is tasked with ensuring that the apprenticeship system meets the needs of UK businesses and supports the government’s ambition of building 1.5 million homes by the end of this parliament.
