Free Functional Skills maths and English for new City & Guilds apprentices

Strong English and maths skills are essential for apprenticeship success. They underpin how learners communicate, solve problems and apply knowledge in real workplace settings.

11 June 2026

City & Guilds is now offering free Functional Skillsin maths and English for eligible apprentices*. When these skills are embedded within apprenticeship programmes, they do more than meet requirements – they build the confidence and capability learners need to progress from day one through to apprenticeship assessment and beyond.

Building strong foundations for work and life

Functional Skills in maths and English provide the core foundations apprentices need to succeed. From interpreting information and managing data to communicating clearly with colleagues and customers, these skills support performance at work and in everyday life.

By embedding them into delivery, providers help apprentices to develop practical, transferable capabilities that improve outcomes and support long-term career progression.

Boosting confidence and removing barriers

For many learners, particularly in maths, low confidence can present a real barrier to progress. According to a YouGov Survey commissioned by National Numeracy: 1 in 3 UK adults say they are not a ‘numbers person’, while 18% feel anxious about maths.

With the right support, this can change. Initiatives like the National Numeracy Challenge show that 40% of learners feel more prepared to use numbers in everyday life, while 49% report a more positive attitude towards maths after taking part.

Structured Functional Skills delivery helps apprentices overcome these challenges. As confidence grows, learners are more likely to stay engaged, remain on programme, and perform strongly at key stages such as gateway and end-point assessment.

Accessible English and maths provision also plays a vital role in widening participation. Functional Skills offer a flexible route for learners who may not have previously achieved these qualifications, helping to remove barriers to entry and progression.

This supports a more inclusive apprenticeship model, enabling a broader range of individuals to access opportunities and succeed. 

A core part of a successful apprenticeship journey

Functional Skills support a more joined-up learning experience by reinforcing the knowledge, skills and behaviours required throughout the programme. They also provide clear milestones that help track and support learner progress.

At City & Guilds, this reflects our commitment to supporting learners to develop a wide range of skills that help them shape successful careers. Aligning Functional Skills with apprenticeship standards and apprenticeship assessment helps create a more rounded and effective learner journey.

Simplifying delivery for providers with a joined-up approach

For providers, embedding Functional Skills within apprenticeship delivery also brings clear operational benefits.

When Functional Skills and EPA are delivered through one organisation, delivery becomes more streamlined and consistent. It means:

• Easier administration
• Clearer and more joined up communication
• More consistent delivery across the learner journey

This enables providers to reduce complexity and focus on supporting learner outcomes.

Employers also benefit from a consistent approach, with apprentices developing occupational competence alongside essential core skills.