Asked by: Baroness Wolf of Dulwich (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether information on all apprenticeship starts and completions, including apprenticeships delivered through independent training providers and to adult apprentices, is included in the Longitudinal Individualised Learner Record.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
All providers of all government funded apprenticeships are required to submit information on apprenticeship starts and completions which are held on the Longitudinal Individualised Learner Record.
Starts and achievements on the Level 2 Bricklayer, Level 3 Craft Bricklayer, Level 2 Carpentry and Joinery, Level 3 Craft Carpentry and Joinery, Level 2 Painter and Decorator, Level 3 Craft Painter and Decorator and Level 2 Plasterer apprenticeship standards can be found here and attached. 'Subjects - Starts, Achievements, Enrolments by Age, Sex, Ethnicity, LLDD, SSA, Detailed level, Standard-framework' from 'Apprenticeships', Permanent data table - Explore education statistics - GOV.UK.
Apprenticeships are occupationally specific and employers are responsible for determining whether an individual has the skills, knowledge and behaviours needed to start a particular apprenticeship. There is no general requirement for an individual to have completed a Level 2 apprenticeship in order to begin the corresponding Level 3 apprenticeship.
In relation to the Level 3 Craft Painting and Decorating, Level 3 Craft Plastering, and Level 3 Craft Bricklaying standard, completion of the associated Level 2 apprenticeship is not a mandatory prerequisite. An apprentice may start a Level 3 apprenticeship where they can demonstrate the relevant prior knowledge, skills and experience required by the employer and training provider.
Employers are free to set entry requirements for their vacancies, taking account of the content and level of the apprenticeship standard. The government expects training providers and employers to take account of relevant prior learning and occupational competence when determining whether an applicant is suitable for a particular apprenticeship programme.
Where an individual has already acquired some of the knowledge, skills and behaviours set out in the apprenticeship standard, this must be recognised through an assessment of prior learning and the apprenticeship content and duration adjusted accordingly.
Asked by: Baroness Wolf of Dulwich (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether completion of an apprenticeship in Painting and decorating L2 is a prerequisite for starting Craft Painting and Decorating L3; whether completion of an apprenticeship in Plastering L2 is a prerequisite for starting Craft Plastering L3; whether completion of an apprenticeship in Bricklaying L2 is a prerequisite for starting Craft Bricklaying L3; and, if completion of the relevant level 2 is not a prerequisite for starting the associated level 3 apprenticeship, what other prerequisites or arrangements for accrediting prior learning exist.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
All providers of all government funded apprenticeships are required to submit information on apprenticeship starts and completions which are held on the Longitudinal Individualised Learner Record.
Starts and achievements on the Level 2 Bricklayer, Level 3 Craft Bricklayer, Level 2 Carpentry and Joinery, Level 3 Craft Carpentry and Joinery, Level 2 Painter and Decorator, Level 3 Craft Painter and Decorator and Level 2 Plasterer apprenticeship standards can be found here and attached. 'Subjects - Starts, Achievements, Enrolments by Age, Sex, Ethnicity, LLDD, SSA, Detailed level, Standard-framework' from 'Apprenticeships', Permanent data table - Explore education statistics - GOV.UK.
Apprenticeships are occupationally specific and employers are responsible for determining whether an individual has the skills, knowledge and behaviours needed to start a particular apprenticeship. There is no general requirement for an individual to have completed a Level 2 apprenticeship in order to begin the corresponding Level 3 apprenticeship.
In relation to the Level 3 Craft Painting and Decorating, Level 3 Craft Plastering, and Level 3 Craft Bricklaying standard, completion of the associated Level 2 apprenticeship is not a mandatory prerequisite. An apprentice may start a Level 3 apprenticeship where they can demonstrate the relevant prior knowledge, skills and experience required by the employer and training provider.
Employers are free to set entry requirements for their vacancies, taking account of the content and level of the apprenticeship standard. The government expects training providers and employers to take account of relevant prior learning and occupational competence when determining whether an applicant is suitable for a particular apprenticeship programme.
Where an individual has already acquired some of the knowledge, skills and behaviours set out in the apprenticeship standard, this must be recognised through an assessment of prior learning and the apprenticeship content and duration adjusted accordingly.
Asked by: Baroness Wolf of Dulwich (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many (1) starts, and (2) completions, there have been on the apprenticeship standards: (a) Carpentry and joinery L2, (b) Craft carpentry and joinery L3, (c) Painting and Decorating L2, (d) Craft Painting and Decorating L3, (e) Plastering L2, (f) Craft Plastering L3, (g) Bricklaying L2, and (h) Painting and Decorating L2; Craft Painting and Decorating L3, Plastering L2, Craft Plastering L3, (g) Bricklaying L2, and (h) Craft Bricklaying L3.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
All providers of all government funded apprenticeships are required to submit information on apprenticeship starts and completions which are held on the Longitudinal Individualised Learner Record.
Starts and achievements on the Level 2 Bricklayer, Level 3 Craft Bricklayer, Level 2 Carpentry and Joinery, Level 3 Craft Carpentry and Joinery, Level 2 Painter and Decorator, Level 3 Craft Painter and Decorator and Level 2 Plasterer apprenticeship standards can be found here and attached. 'Subjects - Starts, Achievements, Enrolments by Age, Sex, Ethnicity, LLDD, SSA, Detailed level, Standard-framework' from 'Apprenticeships', Permanent data table - Explore education statistics - GOV.UK.
Apprenticeships are occupationally specific and employers are responsible for determining whether an individual has the skills, knowledge and behaviours needed to start a particular apprenticeship. There is no general requirement for an individual to have completed a Level 2 apprenticeship in order to begin the corresponding Level 3 apprenticeship.
In relation to the Level 3 Craft Painting and Decorating, Level 3 Craft Plastering, and Level 3 Craft Bricklaying standard, completion of the associated Level 2 apprenticeship is not a mandatory prerequisite. An apprentice may start a Level 3 apprenticeship where they can demonstrate the relevant prior knowledge, skills and experience required by the employer and training provider.
Employers are free to set entry requirements for their vacancies, taking account of the content and level of the apprenticeship standard. The government expects training providers and employers to take account of relevant prior learning and occupational competence when determining whether an applicant is suitable for a particular apprenticeship programme.
Where an individual has already acquired some of the knowledge, skills and behaviours set out in the apprenticeship standard, this must be recognised through an assessment of prior learning and the apprenticeship content and duration adjusted accordingly.
Asked by: Baroness Wolf of Dulwich (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many training places in construction skills boot camps have been delivered since April 2025.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Skills Bootcamp starts by financial year, including breakdowns by sector, are published here. Releases - Skills bootcamps starts, completions and outcomes - Explore education statistics - GOV.UK
The latest published figures show there were 60,410 starts in the 2023-24 financial year, of which 6,820 were in the construction, planning and built environment sector.
Starts, completions and outcomes data for the 2024-25 and 2025-26 financial years are scheduled to be published in winter 2026/27 and winter 2027/28 respectively.
Asked by: Baroness Wolf of Dulwich (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government how much of the £600 million construction skills package announced on 23 March 2025 has been spent to date.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
For financial year 2025-26, publicly available information shows the government spent £78 million of its £80 million budget.
Asked by: Baroness Wolf of Dulwich (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many industry placements have been organized by the Construction Industry Training Board since April 2025, and at what cost.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Employers and further education training providers are responsible for arranging and delivering industry placements, in line with policy and funding provided by the Department for Education.
The Government announced in March 2025 that it would provide £100 million to support over 40,000 construction industry placements each year for eligible Level 2 and Level 3 learners, as part of a wider package to train up to 60,000 additional construction workers by 2029.
The CITB does not organise industry placements and has therefore not incurred any associated costs. It is, however, supporting the Government's commitment to increase the impact of industry placements in construction, alongside a planned contribution of £32 million of funding. The details of this support are currently being developed, with delivery expected to commence in the 2027 financial year.
Asked by: Baroness Wolf of Dulwich (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government which colleges have been designated as technical excellence colleges specializing in construction skills.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The government has designated ten Construction Technical Excellence Colleges (CTECs), comprising one in every region of the country and one cross-regional CTEC. The designated colleges are:
Asked by: Baroness Wolf of Dulwich (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many apprentices aged (1) 18 or under, (2) 19–24, and (3) 25 and over, were employed in 2025 by employers with an annual pay bill of (a) between £3 million and £3.25 million, and (b) over £3.25 million.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
All UK employers with an annual pay bill above £3 million pay the levy. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is responsible for collecting the levy on behalf of the government. HMRC publishes data on UK apprenticeship levy receipts at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/hmrc-tax-and-nics-receipts-for-the-uk. In England, levy paying employers access Government funding for apprenticeships through their employer accounts, which they must set up.
Currently, employers who exhaust the funding in their levy accounts, which includes a 10% Government top-up, can continue to enrol apprentices, with government funding 95% of their training costs for a small contribution of 5%. From August 2026, government will fund 75% of the training and assessment costs once funds are exhausted.
We understand, from our engagement with employers and other stakeholders, that employers with smaller levy balances may be more affected by this change and we will carefully monitor the impact of this change as we implement it.
The department does not publish apprenticeship starts by size of employer pay bill, including starts by size of employer pay bill broken down by age.
Asked by: Baroness Wolf of Dulwich (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many apprenticeship levy-paying employers have an annual pay bill of between £3 million and £3.25 million; whether they assessed the impact of the increase in the employer co-investment rate for starters from 1 August 2026 on recruitment of apprentices by such employers; and if so, what plans they have to publish that assessment.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
All UK employers with an annual pay bill above £3 million pay the levy. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is responsible for collecting the levy on behalf of the government. HMRC publishes data on UK apprenticeship levy receipts at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/hmrc-tax-and-nics-receipts-for-the-uk. In England, levy paying employers access Government funding for apprenticeships through their employer accounts, which they must set up.
Currently, employers who exhaust the funding in their levy accounts, which includes a 10% Government top-up, can continue to enrol apprentices, with government funding 95% of their training costs for a small contribution of 5%. From August 2026, government will fund 75% of the training and assessment costs once funds are exhausted.
We understand, from our engagement with employers and other stakeholders, that employers with smaller levy balances may be more affected by this change and we will carefully monitor the impact of this change as we implement it.
The department does not publish apprenticeship starts by size of employer pay bill, including starts by size of employer pay bill broken down by age.
Asked by: Baroness Wolf of Dulwich (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many people currently work for Skills England.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
As of May 2026, Skills England employs 252 people.