Battery apprenticeship unit added after ‘rapid’ employer consultation It comes a week after the first batch of 7 apprenticeships units was announced
Apprenticeship units funding model is ‘stacked against providers’ Officials warn training firms that funding could be withdrawn with just four weeks’ notice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