Apprenticeship reforms in England: A new chapter for skills and workforce development
As England’s skills system continues to evolve, announcements from the Department for Education (DfE), Skills England, and now the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) continue to shape the major shift in how apprenticeships and technical education will be delivered and supported.
15 September 2025
Developments released over the summer build on the reforms outlined in our July apprenticeship update, where we explored the sector’s response to changes in apprenticeship assessment and programme flexibility.
Foundation apprenticeships: City & Guilds announces new foundation apprenticeship
One of the most significant updates this summer is the formal launch of foundation apprenticeships. These level 2 programmes are designed to support young people aged 16-21, and for those aged 22-24 who face barriers such as care leavers and prison leavers.
As we highlighted in July, foundation apprenticeships aim to provide a more inclusive and accessible entry point into priority sectors such as construction, engineering, health and social care, and digital. In response to this national initiative, City & Guilds announced over the summer that we are developing a foundation apprenticeship in construction, designed to meet the needs of employers and apprentices in one of the UK’s most critical growth sectors.
Employers will receive incentive payments to support mentoring and coaching, helping to ensure young learners are supported throughout their journey and equipped with the skills needed to succeed.
Skills England’s expanding role
Skills England continues to take a leading role in shaping the future of technical education. With Phil Smith CBE as Chair and Sir David Bell as Vice Chair, the agency is tasked with identifying national skills gaps and advising on programme priorities under the new Growth and Skills Levy.
This levy replaces the previous Apprenticeship Levy and will fund both apprenticeship and non-apprenticeship skills programmes. The aim is to create a ‘strong pipeline’ of skilled workers to support the UK’s priority sectors, as outlined in the Modern Industrial Strategy.
DWP joins forces with DfE for a more integrated skills strategy
In a major development following Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s cabinet reshuffle, the skills brief has now been split between the DfE and the DWP. Jacqui Smith has been reappointed as Minister for Skills and will also serve as Minister of State for Skills within DWP - working across both departments. Pat McFadden, the newly appointed Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, will oversee a ‘super ministry’ that includes responsibility for skills. This new collaboration is expected to bring greater coherence between skills policy and labour market strategy and is designed to better align training provision with job market needs, particularly for those furthest from the labour market.
Colleges, training providers, and universities will now be more closely linked to the government’s growth mission, with a renewed focus on regional skills planning and employer engagement.
Apprenticeship flexibility and assessment reform
As we reported in our July update, DfE has introduced several reforms to make apprenticeships more flexible and responsive. These include:
Reduced minimum duration: Apprenticeships can now be completed in as little as eight months, down from the previous 12-month minimum.
Simplified assessment: The term ‘end-point assessment’ has been replaced with ‘apprenticeship assessment,’ allowing for more natural and integrated evaluation of skills.
English and maths flexibility: Apprentices aged 19 and over are no longer required to pass Level 2 English and maths qualifications to complete their programme.
Colleges and training providers will also need to adapt to new funding rules, including fixed minimum off-the-job (OTJ) training hours and clearer guidance on Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). The DfE has published a list of minimum OTJ hours for each apprenticeship standard, with a baseline of 187 hours over 8 months.
What this means for providers
These reforms offer new opportunities to deliver more inclusive and responsive training - but they also come at a time of significant complexity. Providers are navigating a landscape shaped by the Modern Industrial Strategy, evolving Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs), shifting government investment, and major workforce transitions including automation, green skills, and demographic change.
In this environment, providers are expected to act quickly and strategically, yet many lack the data and insight needed to confidently plan new programmes or advise employer partners on policy implications. Supporting employers to understand how these changes affect recruitment, workforce planning, and apprenticeship delivery is now a vital part of the provider role.
Looking ahead: City & Guilds is here to support
City & Guilds is here to help. As your skills partner, we’re committed to guiding you through these changes - whether it’s interpreting policy updates, supporting your business or curriculum planning, or helping you develop programmes that meet future workforce needs.
To support our customers further, we’re hosting a webinar in October focused on the latest apprenticeship reforms and apprenticeship design principles, shifting timeframes, with a spotlight on our foundation apprenticeship and how it will be structured and assessed.
Stay connected with us for updates, insights, and tailored support as we work together to shape a skills system that’s fit for the future.
Register for our webinar: 9 October