Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that students who have studied BTEC Level 3 in Aerospace Engineering and similar qualifications are not prevented from accessing employer-led levy funded engineering apprenticeships.

A learner is able to undertake an apprenticeship at a lower level and in the same sector as training they have previously received, providing the apprenticeship offers sufficient new learning to meet our minimum duration requirements. The government will not fund training that duplicates provision a learner has already received.

In August 2025, we reduced the minimum duration of an apprenticeship from 12 months to 8 months, this change means that more people with relevant prior learning will be able to upskill through an apprenticeship.