50,000 roles | £725m boost for apprenticeships welcomed, but HR experts warn over gaps in skills strategy

A £725 million package of reforms to England’s apprenticeship system has been broadly welcomed by employer groups, but HR and skills experts are warning that the plans risk overlooking older workers and fall short of a coherent long-term strategy for skills.

The Government says the reforms will create 50,000 additional apprenticeships and foundation apprenticeships over the next three years, as part of a wider push to “get Britain working” and tackle youth unemployment. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said it was “time to change the way apprenticeships are viewed and to put them on an equal footing with university,” calling the reforms “a defining cause for this government”.

However, professional bodies have raised concerns that the focus on younger workers, alongside earlier decisions to cut funding for some higher-level programmes, could undermine efforts to boost productivity and social mobility.

£725m package focuses on young people and new technical routes

Under the plans, the Government will: