Asked by: John Cooper (Conservative - Dumfries and Galloway)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of changes to Level 7 apprenticeship funding on (a) workforce supply in frontline public services and (b) the Government's policy of moving care from hospitals into the community.
Answered by Andrew Western - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Apprenticeships are a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.
This Government is investing in young people’s futures and reversing the sharp decline in apprenticeship starts amongst young people – which have fallen by 40% over the last decade.
As communicated in the Written Statement of 2 June 2025, the government no longer funds level 7 apprenticeships, equivalent to master’s degree level, except for young apprentices under the age of 22, and those under 25 who are care leavers or have an Education, Health and Care Plan. This will create more opportunities for those entering the labour market and help apprenticeships opportunities to be rebalanced towards young people.
Employers and apprenticeship training providers were also notified of the changes to Level 7 apprenticeship funding in June 2025.
This decision was informed by a range of evidence, including Skills England’s analysis of official apprenticeship statistics and engagement with a wide range of stakeholders. Skills England’s evidence suggested there was unlikely to be a significant or unavoidable fall in the supply of these skills in the long term, post-defunding. Skills England has published a report on their findings: Skills England: evidence on defunding of level 7 apprenticeships - GOV.UK
We are encouraging more employers to invest in upskilling their staff aged over 22 to level 7 where it delivers a benefit to the business and the individual. It will be for employers to determine the most appropriate training. There are alternative training options available to employers at level 7 including non-apprenticeship routes. The department has published guidance on privately funded apprenticeships, which will enable employers to privately fund level 7 apprenticeships for staff aged over 22: Privately funded apprenticeships: rules and guidance - GOV.UK(opens in a new tab).
The Department for Health and Social Care has confirmed that it will fund the ongoing provision of level 7 apprenticeships in five professions including Specialist Community Public Health Nurse, District Nurse and Advanced Clinical Practitioner.
Apprenticeship starts for the Level 7 Accountancy or Taxation Professional standard are published in the Apprenticeships Accredited Official Statistics publication.
Asked by: John Cooper (Conservative - Dumfries and Galloway)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what evidence the Government used to conclude that there would be no significant long-term reduction in the supply of skills following the removal of public funding for most Level 7 apprenticeships.
Answered by Andrew Western - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Apprenticeships are a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.
This Government is investing in young people’s futures and reversing the sharp decline in apprenticeship starts amongst young people – which have fallen by 40% over the last decade.
As communicated in the Written Statement of 2 June 2025, the government no longer funds level 7 apprenticeships, equivalent to master’s degree level, except for young apprentices under the age of 22, and those under 25 who are care leavers or have an Education, Health and Care Plan. This will create more opportunities for those entering the labour market and help apprenticeships opportunities to be rebalanced towards young people.
Employers and apprenticeship training providers were also notified of the changes to Level 7 apprenticeship funding in June 2025.
This decision was informed by a range of evidence, including Skills England’s analysis of official apprenticeship statistics and engagement with a wide range of stakeholders. Skills England’s evidence suggested there was unlikely to be a significant or unavoidable fall in the supply of these skills in the long term, post-defunding. Skills England has published a report on their findings: Skills England: evidence on defunding of level 7 apprenticeships - GOV.UK
We are encouraging more employers to invest in upskilling their staff aged over 22 to level 7 where it delivers a benefit to the business and the individual. It will be for employers to determine the most appropriate training. There are alternative training options available to employers at level 7 including non-apprenticeship routes. The department has published guidance on privately funded apprenticeships, which will enable employers to privately fund level 7 apprenticeships for staff aged over 22: Privately funded apprenticeships: rules and guidance - GOV.UK(opens in a new tab).
The Department for Health and Social Care has confirmed that it will fund the ongoing provision of level 7 apprenticeships in five professions including Specialist Community Public Health Nurse, District Nurse and Advanced Clinical Practitioner.
Apprenticeship starts for the Level 7 Accountancy or Taxation Professional standard are published in the Apprenticeships Accredited Official Statistics publication.
Asked by: John Cooper (Conservative - Dumfries and Galloway)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the total cost to his Department of providing funding for Level 7 accountancy apprenticeships for (a) all ages, (b) under 25s and (c) under 22s.
Answered by Andrew Western - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Apprenticeships are a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.
This Government is investing in young people’s futures and reversing the sharp decline in apprenticeship starts amongst young people – which have fallen by 40% over the last decade.
As communicated in the Written Statement of 2 June 2025, the government no longer funds level 7 apprenticeships, equivalent to master’s degree level, except for young apprentices under the age of 22, and those under 25 who are care leavers or have an Education, Health and Care Plan. This will create more opportunities for those entering the labour market and help apprenticeships opportunities to be rebalanced towards young people.
Employers and apprenticeship training providers were also notified of the changes to Level 7 apprenticeship funding in June 2025.
This decision was informed by a range of evidence, including Skills England’s analysis of official apprenticeship statistics and engagement with a wide range of stakeholders. Skills England’s evidence suggested there was unlikely to be a significant or unavoidable fall in the supply of these skills in the long term, post-defunding. Skills England has published a report on their findings: Skills England: evidence on defunding of level 7 apprenticeships - GOV.UK
We are encouraging more employers to invest in upskilling their staff aged over 22 to level 7 where it delivers a benefit to the business and the individual. It will be for employers to determine the most appropriate training. There are alternative training options available to employers at level 7 including non-apprenticeship routes. The department has published guidance on privately funded apprenticeships, which will enable employers to privately fund level 7 apprenticeships for staff aged over 22: Privately funded apprenticeships: rules and guidance - GOV.UK(opens in a new tab).
The Department for Health and Social Care has confirmed that it will fund the ongoing provision of level 7 apprenticeships in five professions including Specialist Community Public Health Nurse, District Nurse and Advanced Clinical Practitioner.
Apprenticeship starts for the Level 7 Accountancy or Taxation Professional standard are published in the Apprenticeships Accredited Official Statistics publication.
Asked by: John Cooper (Conservative - Dumfries and Galloway)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the total cost to businesses to fund Level 7 accountancy apprenticeship costs following planned reforms to Government funding.
Answered by Andrew Western - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Apprenticeships are a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.
This Government is investing in young people’s futures and reversing the sharp decline in apprenticeship starts amongst young people – which have fallen by 40% over the last decade.
As communicated in the Written Statement of 2 June 2025, the government no longer funds level 7 apprenticeships, equivalent to master’s degree level, except for young apprentices under the age of 22, and those under 25 who are care leavers or have an Education, Health and Care Plan. This will create more opportunities for those entering the labour market and help apprenticeships opportunities to be rebalanced towards young people.
Employers and apprenticeship training providers were also notified of the changes to Level 7 apprenticeship funding in June 2025.
This decision was informed by a range of evidence, including Skills England’s analysis of official apprenticeship statistics and engagement with a wide range of stakeholders. Skills England’s evidence suggested there was unlikely to be a significant or unavoidable fall in the supply of these skills in the long term, post-defunding. Skills England has published a report on their findings: Skills England: evidence on defunding of level 7 apprenticeships - GOV.UK
We are encouraging more employers to invest in upskilling their staff aged over 22 to level 7 where it delivers a benefit to the business and the individual. It will be for employers to determine the most appropriate training. There are alternative training options available to employers at level 7 including non-apprenticeship routes. The department has published guidance on privately funded apprenticeships, which will enable employers to privately fund level 7 apprenticeships for staff aged over 22: Privately funded apprenticeships: rules and guidance - GOV.UK(opens in a new tab).
The Department for Health and Social Care has confirmed that it will fund the ongoing provision of level 7 apprenticeships in five professions including Specialist Community Public Health Nurse, District Nurse and Advanced Clinical Practitioner.
Apprenticeship starts for the Level 7 Accountancy or Taxation Professional standard are published in the Apprenticeships Accredited Official Statistics publication.
Asked by: John Cooper (Conservative - Dumfries and Galloway)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many Level 7 accountancy apprenticeships were undertaken in 2024/25 and what estimate his Department has made for the corresponding number in 2026/27.
Answered by Andrew Western - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Apprenticeships are a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.
This Government is investing in young people’s futures and reversing the sharp decline in apprenticeship starts amongst young people – which have fallen by 40% over the last decade.
As communicated in the Written Statement of 2 June 2025, the government no longer funds level 7 apprenticeships, equivalent to master’s degree level, except for young apprentices under the age of 22, and those under 25 who are care leavers or have an Education, Health and Care Plan. This will create more opportunities for those entering the labour market and help apprenticeships opportunities to be rebalanced towards young people.
Employers and apprenticeship training providers were also notified of the changes to Level 7 apprenticeship funding in June 2025.
This decision was informed by a range of evidence, including Skills England’s analysis of official apprenticeship statistics and engagement with a wide range of stakeholders. Skills England’s evidence suggested there was unlikely to be a significant or unavoidable fall in the supply of these skills in the long term, post-defunding. Skills England has published a report on their findings: Skills England: evidence on defunding of level 7 apprenticeships - GOV.UK
We are encouraging more employers to invest in upskilling their staff aged over 22 to level 7 where it delivers a benefit to the business and the individual. It will be for employers to determine the most appropriate training. There are alternative training options available to employers at level 7 including non-apprenticeship routes. The department has published guidance on privately funded apprenticeships, which will enable employers to privately fund level 7 apprenticeships for staff aged over 22: Privately funded apprenticeships: rules and guidance - GOV.UK(opens in a new tab).
The Department for Health and Social Care has confirmed that it will fund the ongoing provision of level 7 apprenticeships in five professions including Specialist Community Public Health Nurse, District Nurse and Advanced Clinical Practitioner.
Apprenticeship starts for the Level 7 Accountancy or Taxation Professional standard are published in the Apprenticeships Accredited Official Statistics publication.
Asked by: John Cooper (Conservative - Dumfries and Galloway)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he considered retaining Level 7 apprenticeship funding until age 25 for occupations such as accountancy and law before deciding on a blanket cut-off at age 21; and what assessment he made of the number of young people who will no longer be able to access professional qualification pathways.
Answered by Andrew Western - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Apprenticeships are a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.
This Government is investing in young people’s futures and reversing the sharp decline in apprenticeship starts amongst young people – which have fallen by 40% over the last decade.
As communicated in the Written Statement of 2 June 2025, the government no longer funds level 7 apprenticeships, equivalent to master’s degree level, except for young apprentices under the age of 22, and those under 25 who are care leavers or have an Education, Health and Care Plan. This will create more opportunities for those entering the labour market and help apprenticeships opportunities to be rebalanced towards young people.
Employers and apprenticeship training providers were also notified of the changes to Level 7 apprenticeship funding in June 2025.
This decision was informed by a range of evidence, including Skills England’s analysis of official apprenticeship statistics and engagement with a wide range of stakeholders. Skills England’s evidence suggested there was unlikely to be a significant or unavoidable fall in the supply of these skills in the long term, post-defunding. Skills England has published a report on their findings: Skills England: evidence on defunding of level 7 apprenticeships - GOV.UK
We are encouraging more employers to invest in upskilling their staff aged over 22 to level 7 where it delivers a benefit to the business and the individual. It will be for employers to determine the most appropriate training. There are alternative training options available to employers at level 7 including non-apprenticeship routes. The department has published guidance on privately funded apprenticeships, which will enable employers to privately fund level 7 apprenticeships for staff aged over 22: Privately funded apprenticeships: rules and guidance - GOV.UK(opens in a new tab).
The Department for Health and Social Care has confirmed that it will fund the ongoing provision of level 7 apprenticeships in five professions including Specialist Community Public Health Nurse, District Nurse and Advanced Clinical Practitioner.
Apprenticeship starts for the Level 7 Accountancy or Taxation Professional standard are published in the Apprenticeships Accredited Official Statistics publication.