Important changes to apprenticeship funding come into effect from 1 August 2026, with further changes following on 1 September 2026. Some of the changes create valuable new opportunities, particularly for smaller employers looking to recruit younger apprentices. Others mean businesses need to look for alternatives if they were planning to use certain management, leadership, coaching or professional apprenticeships. What changes on 1 […]
Why Businesses Should Champion Vocational Routes Into Work Today’s King’s Speech from King Charles III placed a clear emphasis on skills, apprenticeships, youth employment, and creating opportunities for every young person to succeed — regardless of background or academic pathway. Among the key themes were: Continued investment in apprenticeships Tackling youth unemployment Greater respect for […]
Here’s What Employers Need to Know Over the past few days, Skills England has announced some significant changes to the apprenticeship landscape. The team at SEATS has taken the time to read, review and digest the updates so we can bring them to you in one clear, straightforward summary. As expected, there is now a major policy pivot towards supporting younger people […]
The Apprenticeship Levy Becomes the Skills & Growth Levy in April 2026 The apprenticeship landscape is about to undergo its biggest transformation since the levy was introduced in 2017. From April 2026, the Apprenticeship Levy will officially become the Skills & Growth Levy, bringing major reforms thatwill impact every employer in the UK. Whether you’re a levy payer or not, the way you plan and fund apprenticeship training is about to change — significantly. At the heart of the system is one key question: “Is your annual salary bill over or under £3 million?” That determines which set of rules applies to your organisation. For Levy-Paying Employers (£3m+ […]
The government is introducing major reforms to post-16 education, ensuring that every young person can gain the skills and knowledge they need to secure a good job, progress to university, or pursue other ambitions. From 2027, new V Levels will be introduced to replace many existing qualifications, simplifying the system and opening up more high-quality […]
The Government’s new Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper (October 2025) sets out some of the biggest changes in years to how education, training and employment support will work for young people and adults. The aim is simple: grow the economy by giving people the skills employers actually need. Here’s what’s coming – and why […]
In a significant shake-up of apprenticeship funding policy, the Department for Education (DfE) has confirmed that public funding for Level 7 apprenticeships will be removed for anyone aged 22 and over from January 2026. The change means that employers will no longer be able to use their apprenticeship levy contributions to fund master’s-level apprenticeships for new […]
The Department for Education (DfE) has published the updated Apprenticeship Funding Rules for 2025 to 2026, bringing several important changes that will affect training providers, employers and apprentices Key Updates 1. Minimum Duration ReducedFrom August 1, 2025, the minimum apprenticeship duration drops to 8 months (previously 12). 2. Revised Off-the-Job Training RulesThere is no longer a requirement to extend […]
