There have been some important funding and policy changes to Apprenticeships.
Please find below very brief headlines, for the full detail we would recommend you visit the following link: Major employment drive to help unlock 200,000 new jobs and apprenticeships for next generation – GOV.UK
• From October 2026, additional payments of up to £2,000 for non-levy paying employers that take on 16-24 year old apprentices as new employees. It will apply to apprenticeship starts from October (if they have joined their employer within the past 3 months, eg: from July 2026).
• Reduction in the expiry of funds period from 24 months to 12 months for levy paying employers. The new 12-month expiry period will only apply to funds entering their account from 1 August 2026 onwards. Any funds already in these accounts before that date will continue to follow the current 24-month expiry period.
• From the 1 August 2026, levy paying employers will no longer benefit from the 10% top up to Levy contributions. Existing funding in levy accounts (which had the 10% top up applied) will remain the same. The removal of top up funding applies to new funds entering accounts only from 1 August 2026 onwards.
• Currently, when levy-paying employers have exhausted the funds in their account, the government pays 95% of training and assessment costs, with employers contributing 5%. From August 2026 government’s funding rate will change to 75% and levy employers will be expected to contribute 25% for all new starts. Existing apprentices on programme will still benefit from 95% funding rate.
• From September 2026, government funding from 16 existing apprenticeship standards will be withdrawn. All existing learners on these apprenticeship standards will continue to be funded through to completion.
The apprenticeships being defunded are:
• Team Leader (Level 3)
• Operations Manager (Level 5)
• Coaching Professional (Level 5)
• Chartered Manager (Level 6)
• Lead Practitioner in Adult Care (Level 4)
• Improvement Practitioner (Level 4)
• Security First Line Manager (Level 3)
• Facilities Management Supervisor (Level 3)
• Learning and Skills Mentor (Level 4)
• Cleaning Hygiene Operative (Level 2)
• Learning and Skills Assessor (Level 3)
• Custody and Detention Professional (Level 3)
• Professional Security Operative (Level 2)
• Improvement Leader (Level 6)
• Public Sector Compliance Investigator and Officer (Level 3)
• Outdoor Learning Specialist (Level 5)
• Please talk to us about alternatives!
• There is a new level 2 Administrative Assistant apprenticeship aimed specifically at 16–24-year-olds available for starts from 1 August 2026, providing a new opportunity for young people and career starters.
• For our Health & Social Care partners, Foundation Apprenticeships are available for young people aged 16 to 21, and up to 24 for those with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), care leavers, or prisoners and prison leavers. Foundation apprenticeships are jobs with training at Level 2 that provide job-specific knowledge and skills, while also developing employability skills and behaviours to support the transition from education to work.
Please note: This will mean you have until July 2026 to take advantage on enrolling your staff under current apprenticeship funding of 95% funded and 5% employer contribution.