As part of a broader strategy to refocus skills investment on young people, the UK government has announced significant reforms to apprenticeship funding in England (DfE, 2025). Central to this strategy is the ambition to rebuild the domestic workforce and address persistent skills shortages in sectors such as construction, healthcare and digital technology. As I discuss in a previous BERA Blog post, with the launch of Skills England and an investment of more than £3 billion into apprenticeships, including the creation of 120,000 new training opportunities, the policy aims to provide meaningful employment pathways for the growing number of 16–24-year-olds not currently in education, work or training (see Allison 2025).

Against this backdrop, the UK government will from 1 January 2026 significantly alter the funding model for level 7 apprenticeships in England specifically. While funding will remain for young people aged 16–21, and for those under 25 who are care leavers or have an education, health and care plan (EHCP), older applicants will no longer be eligible for government support for these advanced programmes. Existing apprentices will, however, remain funded through to completion.

Who benefits? And who’s left out?

Prioritising access for young people who are just entering the labour market is a legitimate and understandable policy goal. However, such a decision risks undermining the very objectives that apprenticeships, including level 7, were designed to fulfil: widening access to high-level professional roles; fostering social mobility; and equipping the workforce with the advanced skills needed in a rapidly changing labour market.

‘This renewed focus on youth must be balanced with a recognition that skills development does not, and should not, stop in early adulthood.’

However, this renewed focus on youth must be balanced with a recognition that skills development does not, and should not, stop in early adulthood. Level 7 apprenticeships have been a vital route for people in the workforce to advance into senior and specialist roles. The Social Market Foundation considers the age profile of level 7 apprentices to be a concern: in 2023/24, fewer than 500 level 7 apprentices were aged 16–18, while more than 15,000 were over the age of 25 (SMF, 2025). They also criticise how most learners (72 per cent) already held at least a bachelor’s degree or equivalent.

However, these figures reflect the nature of these programmes: level 7 apprenticeships are typically undertaken by individuals transitioning into high-level roles in sectors such as law, accountancy and senior leadership. These are not entry-level pathways, but rather vehicles for career progression, often taken by individuals who have already accumulated substantial academic and professional experience.

Undermining lifelong learning and workforce development

The shift in funding policy therefore risks overlooking the needs of older learners and sectors that rely on upskilling their workforce at higher levels. While the government has reaffirmed support for adult skills in other areas, such as Skills Bootcamps and localised training programmes, these generally serve different purposes and qualifications (see Collyer Merritt, 2025).

To restrict level 7 funding to those aged 16–21 is a fundamental misalignment with the demographics and purpose of level 7 qualifications. Restricting access to funding based on age ignores the reality of modern career trajectories, where individuals retrain or upskill multiple times across their working lives, and may disincentivise employers from investing in the development of their workforce.

Employers have warned that removing government funding for older applicants could make these programmes financially unviable, especially for smaller firms (see John, 2025). This shift could lead to a narrowing of opportunity and a reduction in overall participation, contradicting efforts to increase social mobility through vocational and technical routes.

Towards a more inclusive apprenticeship model

The central question is not whether young people should be prioritised, but whether this should come at the expense of inclusive, lifelong access to education. People change careers, return to education, and retrain later in life for a variety of reasons. Public investment in advanced learning should reflect that reality.

The UK government’s broader plan to strengthen the skills system in England is timely and necessary. However, as the government pursues its ambition to ‘rebuild Britain’, there is a risk that narrowing eligibility based on age may unintentionally limit opportunities for those who continue to have much to offer. A thriving, modern economy depends not just on the next generation, but on supporting people to learn, adapt and upskill at every stage of life. Internationally, countries such as Australia and Denmark offer apprenticeship models that support adult learners and encourage continuous professional development. Could a more inclusive approach, recognising the value of mid-career reskilling, strengthen economic participation and social mobility within England? Such questions may be essential in shaping a skills agenda that is both ambitious and equitable.

References

Allison, J. (2025, March 28). ‘Skills England’ and the future of UK apprenticeships: A more agile skills system? BERA Blog. https://www.bera.ac.uk/blog/skills-england-and-the-future-of-uk-apprenticeships-a-more-agile-skills-system

Collyer Merritt, E. (2025). Lifelong learning: England’s adult education sector and the government’s plan for skills. House of Lords Library. https://lordslibrary.parliament.uk/lifelong-learning-englands-adult-education-sector-and-the-governments-plan-for-skills/

Department for Education [DfE]. (2025, May 27). Next generation of builders and carers set to rebuild Britain [Press release]. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/next-generation-of-builders-and-carers-set-to-rebuild-britain

John, G. (2025, May 27). Employers urge government to extend level 7 apprenticeship funding beyond age 21. FE News. https://www.fenews.co.uk/exclusive/employers-urge-government-to-extend-level-7-apprenticeship-funding-beyond-age-21/

Social Market Foundation [SMF]. (2025). A level of uncertainty: How to resolve the debate over the future of Level 7 apprenticeships [Briefing paper]. https://www.smf.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/A-level-of-uncertainty-Jan-2025.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com