Apprentices
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many of the proposed 50,000 new apprenticeships for young people have been allocated to (a) England, (b) each region and (c) each sector to date.
Answered by Andrew Western
Skills is a devolved matter and the department is responsible for apprenticeships in England only.
This Government is transforming the apprenticeships levy into a new growth and skills levy in England. This is backed by £1 billion of additional investment which will support 50,000 more young people into apprenticeships across England, give employers greater flexibility to develop the workforce they need, and support the Industrial Strategy.
We are expanding opportunities for young people through: new foundation apprenticeships in hospitality and retail; launching a level 2 Administrative Assistant apprenticeship from August; and introducing a £2,000 hiring payment for non-levy paying employers (typically SMEs) that recruit 16-24-year-old apprentices.
We will also fully fund apprenticeship training for all eligible 16–24-year-olds at non-levy paying employer from August 2026 and launch a £140 million pilot, in conjunction with Mayoral Strategic Authorities, to better connect young people to local apprenticeship opportunities.
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