Level 7 apprenticeship funding cuts to cost employers £214m
Employers will have to pay £214m in additional training costs following the government’s decision to cut levy funding of Level 7 apprenticeships from next year.
In total, 89 per cent of Level 7 apprentices are aged over 21 but from January 2026, funding will only be available for Level 7 apprentices aged between 16 and 21.
Research from the University Vocational Awards Council (UVAC) also reveals the extent to which cuts will widen the skills gap, hinder social inclusion and stifle economic growth.
According to UVAC, Level 7 apprenticeships - the equivalent to a Master’s degree - have enabled engineering firms to upskill and develop future managers, business leaders or fill specialist roles.
The latest data from UVAC reveals that year-on-year Level 7 apprenticeship starts have risen 13 per cent in the last three years and five per cent in the last 12 months.
In addition, the National Foundation of Educational Research had previously found that 90 per cent of roles within firms across all sectors will require higher-level skills by 2035.
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Apprenticeship Funding Cuts to Cost Employers £214m
I had no idea the taxpayer was funding such an advanced level of education. Certainly graduates and post-graduates don´t receive comparable financial...