The government has launched its Get Britain Working White Paper, which introduces sweeping changes to how employment support and skills training will be delivered.
Some of the key changes being introduced during 2025/2026 are:
- Investment – £115m into a ‘Connect to Work’ supported employment programme
- £45m to test the new Youth Guarantee across eight Mayoral areas.
- £40m to transform the current Apprenticeship Levy into a Growth & Skills Levy
- £55m to develop a new jobs & careers service.
What do the changes mean?
The introduction of a Youth Guarantee aims to ensure that every 18 – 21-year-old in England will have access to an Apprenticeship, quality training and education opportunities or help to find a job.
Eight trailblazer areas have been identified to start the ball rolling; these are Liverpool, West Midlands, Tees Valley, East Midlands, West of England, Cambridgeshire & Peterborough and two in London. Each of these areas will receive £45m in funding to help identify those most at risk of becoming NEET – not in education, training or employment.
The new Growth and Skills Levy, which will replace the existing Apprenticeship Levy, aims to fund more types of training than currently allowed i.e. non-apprenticeship training. Employers have been asking for this for some time; businesses are keen to access more agile, modular training to meet their business needs.
The introduction of shorter and Foundation Apprenticeships also make up part of the changes being heralded in by the Growth & Skills Levy. We are still waiting on the finer details but these are seen as positive moves towards a real focus on training, skills and Apprenticeships.
Whilst the DCTPN is pleased to see skills high on the government’s agenda there is a view amongst Providers that the apprenticeship brand must be protected and not damaged or diluted in any way.
Sharron Robbie, CEO of the DCTPN, said: We certainly need more opportunities for people to enter the work of work, and that includes at lower and entry levels. Greater access into work-based learning via Levels 1 & 2 would support those furthest from the jobs market, improve social mobility and provide progression opportunities within the labour pipeline.
“We are constantly monitoring and reviewing the proposed changes, and working with key partners to ensure that the post-16 education, training and skills sector here in the South West is able to grasp the opportunities that will arise from these changes.”
