Apprenticeship units funding model is ‘stacked against providers’ Officials warn training firms that funding could be withdrawn with just four weeks’ notice
Apprenticeship budget to rise to £3.3bn amid savings scramble Allocation for 2026-27 will increase by 5.8% – but Treasury top-slice still hits £700m
DWP caps new starts on defunded apprenticeships to stop recruitment rush Funding axe will also kick in immediately for providers with no recorded starts on affected standards in 2024-25 and 2025-26
First apprenticeship units limited to ‘strong’ providers New guidance and draft funding rules provide detail on duration, age restrictions, assessment and payment model
New level 2 admin apprenticeship limited to under-25s It is the first time an apprenticeship has been given an age restriction outside of level 7 apprenticeships
Teaching hours cut ‘not enough to revive T Levels’ College leaders doubt that putting the ‘bloated’ courses on a diet will be the silver bullet ministers hope for
Ministers shrink T Levels to boost take-up and manageability New T Levels will be smaller than any existing course, with content and assessment trimmed to ease delivery pressures
DfE agrees to BTECs defunding delay Funding for the level 3 courses will now continue into the 2026-27 academic year as ministers amend ‘aggressive’ approach
Angela Middleton stripped of MBE by King Charles The ex-apprenticeship boss has honour revoked for ‘bringing the honours system into disrepute’ after owing DfE £12.5m