2025 Reform: 10,000 More Apprenticeship Places as English and Maths Rules Change

• Up to 10,000 more apprentices to qualify yearly under major government reforms
• Apprenticeship duration cut from 12 to 8 months minimum, starting August 2025
• English and maths requirements now flexible for learners over 19, effective immediately
• Changes target key shortage areas including construction, healthcare and social care
• New Skills England body launched to oversee national skills strategy and support economic growth
• Reform package designed to break link between background and success, following employer feedback

Up to 10,000 more apprentices will be able to qualify per year as the government cuts red tape to boost economic growth by giving employers more flexibility over maths and English requirements. 

Rules slowing down the training of workers in key industries like construction will also be changed as the government reveals plans to turbocharge growth industries with reduced bureaucracy for apprenticeships and new leadership also appointed for Skills England.  

Leading employers have been calling for these changes. Businesses will now be able to decide whether adult learners over the age of 19 when they start their apprenticeship course will need to complete a level 2 English and maths qualification (equivalent to GCSE) in order to pass it. This means more learners can qualify in high demand sectors such as healthcare, social care and construction, helping to drove growth and meet government targets in key areas such as housebuilding.

This could mean as many as 10,000 more apprentices per year will be able to complete their apprenticeship, unlocking opportunity in communities all over the country and breaking the link between background and success. It does not mean that apprentices won’t be assessed on core English and maths skills relevant to their occupation, but it does mean that apprentices will be able to focus more on their paid work.

The minimum duration of an apprenticeship will be reduced to eight months, down from the current minimum of 12 months.

Secretary of State for Education, Bridget Phillipson said:  

“Growing the economy and opportunity for all are fundamental Missions of our Plan for Change, and we are determined to support apprentices throughout this National Apprenticeship Week and beyond. 

“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.  

“Skills England will be a major driver in addressing the skills gaps needed to support employers up and down the country and I look forward to working with the new leadership.”

Minister for Skills, Jacqui Smith said:  

“This National Apprenticeship Week we are celebrating our brilliant apprentices and the institutions that support and the train them. Further education providers play a vital role in our ambitious Plan for Change by delivering the skills our economy needs, driving growth and breaking down the barriers to opportunity. 

“Providers, employers, and learners have been clear that they need a more responsive system, and these reforms show we are listening. Our new offer of shorter apprenticeships will help providers deliver the high-quality training that meets employer demand, ensuring more people gain the skills they need for a successful career.

“Skills England will be a key driver in tackling skills shortages, working closely with colleges and training providers to ensure businesses across the country can access the talent they need to grow.”

Craig Beaumont, Executive Director, Federation of Small Businesses said:  

“It’s encouraging to see Government shorten the length of apprenticeships, and give employers the right to decide whether Level 2 English and Maths is needed. These flexibilities should help SME employers fill skills gaps faster.”

These announcements come as the Education Secretary kicked off National Apprenticeship Week yesterday, which celebrates the achievements of apprentices around the country and the positive impact they make to communities, businesses, and the wider economy.  

The plans also follow the Prime Minister’s announcement in October, when he pledged to reform the new growth and skills offer to ensure young people are better supported.   

Three trailblazer apprenticeships in key shortage occupations will look to pioneer the new shorter apprenticeship approach, with apprentices in green energy, healthcare and film/TV production set to be able to take on these new courses.   

Changes to the minimum length of an apprenticeship will be introduced from August 2025 subject to the legislative timetable, with changes to English and maths requirements coming into effect immediately. This will be hugely beneficial to employers in sectors like construction which have an urgent need for qualified workers, helping to meet the government’s mission to build 1.5 million homes by the end of this parliament.   

Skills England appointments confirmed

The Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, has also announced that Phil Smith CBE will chair Skills England, the new nationwide body for skills, with Sir David Bell serving as Vice Chair. Tessa Griffiths and Sarah Maclean will jointly serve as CEO, while Gemma Marsh will serve as Deputy CEO. 

Phil Smith is the former chair and CEO of international tech and telecoms giant Cisco. He brings extensive industry experience in digital, tech and innovation leadership and his appointment signals the seriousness of the government’s plan for growth, unlocked via a national vision for skills.   

Job Sharing CEO at Skills England

Tessa Griffiths and Sarah Maclean will jointly serve as CEO

Phil Smith CBE said: 

“I know from my time in industry how valuable direct engagement from employers can be in shaping government policy.   

“We need a dynamic skills system that can drive economic growth, and I’m excited to be involved in shaping Skills England as part of that.”   

Sir David Bell has four decades of experience in the education and skills sector and is currently Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of the University of Sunderland  

Sir David Bell said:   

“I look forward to working with Phil Smith, other colleagues in Skills England, and the Department for Education to help deliver economic growth and meet the nation’s skills needs.   

“I know from my experience in public policy and higher education that providing the skilled workforce which Britain requires depends on industry, government and education organisations working together. I am very confident therefore that Skills England will provide the strategic oversight to make that happen.”   

Skills England will bring together key partners to meet the skills needs of the next decade across all regions of England. More than 700 stakeholders have already been engaged through roundtables, webinars and engagement events. 

It will work with employers, national, regional and local government, providers, and unions to identify skills shortages and provide strong strategic direction for the skills system.  

One of Skills England’s first orders of business will be to identify which apprenticeships would be best served by the shorter duration approach. Skills England will prioritise key shortage occupations as per the industrial strategy, helping to boost growth under our Plan for Change.   

Sector Reactions

Sharon Blyfield, Head of Early Careers at Coca-Cola Europacific Partners GB, said:

“At Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, we believe that the inclusion of functional skills as an exit for apprenticeships have often hindered many people from reaching their full potential. The announced changes will help make apprenticeships a more viable option to more people, not only new recruits but also for our current employees who missed out on these skills during their school years. These changes will enable them to successfully complete their apprenticeships without added barriers, which is brilliant news.”

Euan Blair MBE, founder and CEO, Multiverse: 

‘This important announcement will do so much to widen and expand access to apprenticeships and should be welcomed as a move to put our skills system at the heart of the growth Mission. For years this requirement has created an artificial barrier between apprenticeships and those who could benefit from them, including young people from disadvantaged backgrounds and older workers whose roles are at risk of job displacement, while often diluting the quality and purpose of an apprenticeship. Apprenticeships are about giving as many people as possible the ability to improve their career prospects and contribute meaningfully to their employers: this move helps to underline that focus.’ 

Craig Beaumont, Executive Director, Federation of Small Businesses said:  ‘It’s encouraging to see Government shorten the length of apprenticeships, and give employers the right to decide whether Level 2 English and Maths is needed. These flexibilities should help SME employers fill skills gaps faster.’

Alex Hall-Chen Principal Policy Advisor, Sustainability, Skills, and Employment said:

“Apprenticeships are a vital tool in tackling the UK’s persistent skills shortages, and this announcement is a welcome step in removing unnecessary barriers to increasing apprenticeship numbers. 

“Research with IoD members clearly showed that giving employers flexibility when it comes to English and Maths qualifications for adult apprentices has the potential to unlock more apprenticeship opportunities. 

Employers are well-placed to judge whether English and Maths qualifications are the most appropriate route to evidence or develop the literacy and numeracy skills needed for success in the given career path.”

Chris Bailey, Starbucks UK Early Careers Manager 

 “Starbucks UK welcomes the announcement around relaxing the requirements of functional skills for learners 19yrs+. Removing this significant barrier will support our commitment to enrolling more apprentices, particularly those who may have previously faced challenges with functional skills assessments. By embracing this change we can empower more of our Partners to gain valuable recognised qualifications, develop their skills, and progress within Starbucks and their careers.” 

Lisa Pinfield, Group Director of Performance & Development, Capita: 

“Making Functional Skills requirements more flexible for apprenticeships will open doors for more adult learners, especially those from diverse backgrounds. By removing unnecessary barriers, employers can welcome a wider pool of talented apprentices who bring valuable skills and experience. This change will help businesses grow, support social mobility, and give more people the chance to succeed through apprenticeships.”

Jo Rackham, Executive Director of People of the John Lewis Partnership, comments:

“Apprenticeships help us build and retain the skills we need to deliver brilliant service to our customers and power our growth. They’ve helped 5,000 employees, or as we’re called Partners, progress in their careers since 2017.

“We welcome the relaxation in functional skills requirements. It’s an important step towards the reform needed to help more people access apprenticeships.  Gaining GCSE Maths and English qualifications can be a significant barrier to starting or completing one and we believe it will help more disadvantaged people, including those who leave the care system or those with learning disabilities, make a career for themselves.”

Ben Rowland, Chief Executive of AELP, said:

“I welcome the proposed changes to functional skills requirements in apprenticeships. This is one of the biggest barriers providers, employers and apprentices face within the apprenticeship system, and has caused significant stress and missed opportunities for learners, meaning less progression and locking out many individuals from being able to access an apprenticeship opportunity. While good literacy and numeracy are important in work and life, it is right to remove this as an arbitrary requirement for adults. I am proud of the work the AELP team has done, to harness the insight and data from across our members, and to work with officials and stakeholders to secure the case for these changes.

“The changes to the minimum duration of apprenticeships, something AELP has also long called for, are also most welcome and should help learners and employers access priority skills needed to boost their careers and boost their industry at shorter notice. Time served is not a measure of quality, and apprenticeships will still be substantial training programmes where apprentices will need to evidence full occupational competency but the flexibility allows providers and employers to lean into different delivery models that enable accelerated learning of new skills, knowledge and behaviour.”

Responding to the government’s announcement that it will train 10,000 more apprentices per year, University and College Union (UCU) general secretary Jo Grady today (Tuesday) said:

“UCU has long called on the government to end the resit nightmare and stop forcing students to retake maths and English, so this is a step in the right direction. Labour must now allow all students to move on to further study without continuous retakes, recognising their diverse range of talents and allowing them to thrive.

“For the government to achieve its target of training more apprentices into skilled jobs, further education colleges must be properly funded. Unfortunately, colleges face a recruitment crisis because salaries are too low. The funding must now be provided to raise college wages and ensure the government can train the highly skilled workforce the country needs and get Britain growing again.”

TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak said:

“Everyone who wants to improve their skills to get decent work should have that chance. Apprenticeships are one of the best opportunities to do that.

“These changes will remove some of the barriers to apprenticeships so that more people can benefit. And by raising the skills of thousands more workers, we can boost economic growth too.

“Unions called for many of these changes. We will now work with businesses, government and Skills England to make sure that we not only raise the number of apprenticeships, but we raise the quality too.”

Responding to the Government’s announcement of a range of apprenticeship policy changes, Nick Harrison, Chief Executive of the Sutton Trust, said:

‘Removing the requirement for apprentices to complete level 2 maths and English qualifications is a sensible move that takes away a major barrier to accessing and completing apprenticeships. We have long called for this change so that employers have more flexibility while still ensuring apprentices have opportunities to develop the maths and English skills needed in the world of work.

‘Reducing the minimum duration of an apprenticeship must come with safeguards that quality will be maintained or improved. And rebalancing levy funding to increase the number of lower-level apprenticeships should help to reinstate opportunities for younger people that have dwindled in recent years. At present, many higher and degree level apprenticeships are undertaken by those aged over 25, often existing employees. Redressing the balance should also help to tackle major skills gaps and help to drive inclusive growth across the country. 

‘However, the impact of the change to a skills and apprenticeships levy should be carefully monitored to ensure employers are not diverting funds from apprenticeships towards broader learning and development for staff. And crucially, to ensure that more opportunities are created for disadvantaged young people who stand to benefit the most from them.’

Commenting on today’s government announcement of changes to the apprenticeship system, Association of Colleges Chief Executive David Hughes said:

“This is a good package of measures to help ensure apprenticeships support people and employers with less bureaucracy and cost. Together, these should ensure that more apprentices finish their qualifications and continue into good jobs.

“I am particularly pleased that the requirement for apprentices over 19 to pass their English and maths GCSE has been removed – allowing them to continue to study the literacy and numeracy skills which are relevant to their workplace without posing a barrier for thousands of them being able to move on from their apprenticeships.

“Shorter apprenticeships will allow more people to move quickly, with the right skills, into key roles in shortage sectors like renewable energy and the health service filling crucial skills gaps. Colleges across the country are ready to help train those key staff on these shorter courses.”

Responding to apprenticeship reforms announced by the Government on 11 February, Stephen Evans, Chief Executive at Learning and Work Institute (L&W), said:

“It is a mistake to reduce the minimum length of an apprenticeship and remove the need to study English and maths. England is already an outlier compared to other countries with shorter apprenticeships and far less general education like English and maths. Lowering standards in this way will increase this disparity, and only gives the false illusion of increasing opportunity. If training doesn’t require 12 months, it can still be valuable but isn’t necessarily an apprenticeship. Apprenticeships should prepare people for future careers, which will increasingly need good English and maths. We should invest to make that work, or risk limiting opportunity and growth.”

Ed Richardson, Programme Director for People & Skills at BusinessLDN, said:

“The requirement for adult apprentices to do functional skills qualifications has held many learners back from accessing training, so today’s announcement will open-up opportunities to more people from a broad range of backgrounds to start an apprenticeship and build a great career.

“Plans to shorten the minimum length of apprenticeships will also give businesses greater flexibility to deliver more agile forms of training to reflect the skills they need.

“It’s now crucial that Skills England’s new leadership team works closely with businesses to address skills gaps and drive-up investment in training, including a clear roadmap for turning the Apprenticeship Levy into a Growth & Skills Levy.”

NCUB CEO Dr Joe Marshall said:

“Boosting apprenticeship numbers and streamlining access for adult learners is essential to upskilling our workforce and filling key gaps that hinder national growth.

“These qualifications play a crucial role in the UK’s skills ecosystem, bringing together universities and businesses to co-develop and deliver the expertise needed for the future workforce. Universities are critical partners to government and business in preparing the highly skilled workforce of the future. These provers – who deliver 1 in 10 apprenticeships in England – urgently need  confirmation that level 7 apprenticeships will remain a part of this strategy.”

“As these institutions navigate significant financial challenges, clear, long-term funding commitments are critical to enabling them to plan, adapt, and continue providing the skills essential for economic growth.”

Rob Nitsch, CEO of the Federation, commented:

‘It is great to see the announcement of the leadership of Skills England, which will help everyone to move forward; we look forward to working with the new team and continuing our positive relationship with Tessa and Sarah, particularly around the agility and speed of the approvals system and pan-UK coherence.

We also welcome the Government’s evident commitment to deploying apprenticeships more effectively as the country seeks growth; they have so much to offer the economy, business and individuals. However, we must also maintain the standard of every apprenticeship, whatever their length; ensuring that we do not compromise on assessment will be a key component of this.’

REC Director of Campaigns Shazia Ejaz said:

“It is encouraging that the government is taking steps to repair the broken ladder of opportunity for young people, within its first year in power. There is an urgent need to build better routes to good-quality jobs for everyone who chooses to pursue employment and training after leaving school or college. To achieve this, we must bring employers closer to young people.

“The rigid English and maths requirements for apprenticeships are deterring both employers and training providers from recruiting young people who have not yet met these standards, disproportionately affecting the most disadvantaged. Moreover, the relevance of academic-style English and maths qualifications to many real-world workplaces is questionable.

“The introduction of shorter apprenticeships is a positive step because it offers greater opportunities and flexibility for both employers and apprentices – which is needed to help economic growth. The business community is eagerly awaiting further details on how the new Growth and Skills Levy will support even more flexibility for employers and workers. More shorter, modular courses as well as apprenticeships will help many people to get into or progress in work.”