Navigating the future of apprenticeships: Sector reacts to EPA reform

Hot on the heels of recent webinars from Ofqual and Skills England, education professionals and training providers were given an overview of the UK government's latest reforms to England’s apprenticeship end-point assessments (EPAs)

10 July 2025

The session, led by the City & Guilds team, unpacked a series of policy shifts that promise to reshape the landscape of vocational education.

With over 900 webinar delegates, and many questions still to be answered by Skills England and Ofqual, City & Guilds has committed to delivering regular webinar updates in the coming months to support customers through the changes.

A push for simplification

At the heart of the reforms is a government-led initiative to simplify apprenticeships. The rationale is clear: many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have found the current system overly bureaucratic and resource-intensive.

One of the most notable changes is the reduction of the minimum apprenticeship duration from 12 months to 8 months, effective from 1 August 2025 – subject to legislation. This move is designed to accommodate learners with prior experience and to offer greater flexibility in delivery. However, providers must still meet the minimum guided learning hours for each standard.

Off-the-job training: A difficult balance

The recalibration of off-the-job training hours has emerged as a point of discussion. Using historical data from the Individualised Learner Record (ILR), DfE assigned new minimum off-the-job training hours to each apprenticeship standard.

Some providers welcomed the clarity around the new minimum requirements, but some voiced concerns that they were either too high or too low. To take on board feedback, DfE are consulting with employers and providers with a temporary adjustment in place for 42 standards until December. A new Annex C and more guidance are expected imminently.

Foundation Apprenticeships: A new entry point

The introduction of Foundation Apprenticeships marks another significant development. Targeted at 16-21-year-olds (and up to 24 for those with Education, Health and Care Plans), these level 2 programmes are designed as accessible pathways into skilled professions. Seven initial standards have been released to awarding organisations for review and consideration, including construction, digital/software, health and social care.

While the initiative is broadly welcomed, many providers have expressed concerns about the short time allowed for a considered rollout, and voiced uncertainty about how these new apprenticeships will work versus existing qualifications.

Ofqual consultation: A shift in assessment dynamics

City & Guilds Head of Qualification Development provided insights into Ofqual’s ongoing consultation on apprenticeship assessment regulation. The proposals suggest a more flexible approach to assessment design and delivery, allowing awarding organisations to tailor their models - potentially leading to significant variation across providers.

A key feature, and part of the consultation, is the emphasis on synoptic assessment, which, it is proposed, should constitute a ‘substantial amount’ of the overall evaluation of knowledge and skills to enable the demonstration of the apprentice’s competence in line with the requirements in the occupational standard and apprenticeship assessment plan. Awarding Organisations, now being termed as apprenticeship ‘Assessment Organisations’ by Skills England, may permit providers to mark a proportion of the assessment(s), but awarding organisations will still need to retain oversight, raising questions about consistency and quality assurance.

Sector concerns: Consistency and capacity

Throughout the webinar, a recurring theme was the sector’s concern over consistency. A live poll revealed that 59% of attendees were most worried about the lack of a unified approach to EPA, followed by concerns about quality (38%) and capacity and capability to deliver assessments (35%).

The reforms also raise questions about funding. While some standards have seen increases in funding bands, others, like health and social care, remain underfunded despite high demand. The potential for further changes, particularly in response to the Skills England strategy, adds another layer of uncertainty.

Looking ahead with cautious optimism

Despite the challenges, the tone of the webinar was one of cautious optimism. The reforms, while ambitious, are seen as an opportunity to modernise and improve the apprenticeship system. However, as the City & Guilds team repeatedly emphasised, much depends on the clarity and consistency of implementation.

With Ofqual’s policy consultation open until 27 August 2025; the technical consultation running in the winter; further updates expected from the DfE, and Ofqual publishing the final regulatory framework in Spring 2026, the coming months will be critical. Providers are urged to engage with the consultation processes and to prepare for a period of significant transition.

As one speaker aptly summarised, ‘We’re all on moving ground.’ The success of these reforms will hinge not just on policy, but on the sector’s ability to collaborate, adapt, and maintain the quality and integrity of apprenticeship delivery.