Apprenticeship reform: Updates to prioritised standards, plans to fast-track programme development and new ‘clearing-style’ system
The latest government updates include revisions to the list of prioritised standards and assessment plans, as well as new measures designed to give young people a clearer path into apprenticeships, while keeping up with local skills needs.
12 February 2026
As the government continues to deliver its skills reform, this month it has released a number of updates.
These include changes to the Skills England priority standards and assessment plans list, plans to fast-track the creation of new programmes in industries ‘powering the UK’s growth’, and new measures to give young people a clearer path into apprenticeships.
Updates to prioritised apprenticeship standards and assessment plans
Following Skills England’s release of key standards and assessment plans prioritised for revision at the end of December, it has recently released a number of updates to the list including status reports and new additions. The latest list is available on the government website.
Fast-track apprenticeships
As part of announcements made ahead of National Apprenticeship week, the government shared plans to fast track the creation of new apprenticeship programmes in key growth industries for the UK. According to the statement, it will ‘dramatically speed up how new courses are created’ and help training provision keep pace with rapidly evolving sectors including clean energy, advanced manufacturing, digital technologies and modern construction.
Introducing a new apprenticeship ‘clearing-style’ pilot
Another key development is the confirmation that a new apprenticeship ‘clearing-style’ system will be piloted later this year. Similar to university clearing, it will match ‘near-miss’ applicants – who narrowly miss out on their preferred apprenticeship – with alternative opportunities in their local area. The pilot will be delivered in partnership with Mayoral Strategic Authorities to ensure it reflects regional skills needs.
The service is designed to reduce drop off and keep candidates engaged in high quality work based learning pathways.
New online apprenticeship platform
The government has also reaffirmed plans for a new online apprenticeships platform to help people who are interested in apprenticeships but unclear on where to start. The platform will bring together information including pay, progression routes, and more clear guidance for learners to enable people to easily explore and compare available opportunities.
Supported by the Growth and Skills Levy, which aims to support 50,000 additional apprenticeships for young people, these developments are all part of the government’s longer-term ambition to place apprenticeships on an equal footing with university pathways, while expanding access to technical education and strengthen local skills pipelines.term ambition to place apprenticeships on an equal footing with university pathways
Supporting you through the reforms
While many organisations welcome the renewed focus on early career pathways, we recognise that these changes raise important operational considerations, including workforce planning, assessment capacity and funding models.
We continue to monitor the implications of the reforms on assessment, and as they progress we remain in regular dialogue with Skills England and policymakers to ensure sector voices are represented.
For City & Guilds customers, our priority remains ensuring you feel supported, informed, and equipped to continue delivering high quality training throughout the reforms.
We will continue to provide regular updates, guidance and support as more information becomes available. If you have questions about how changes may affect your programmes, delivery models or learners, please visit our online support hub for more information or reach out to our teams.
Visit our apprenticeship reforms hub for the latest updates
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