Regulatory
Apprenticeships
The newly launched UK Industrial Strategy marks a decisive shift in how the country approaches skills, growth, and the future workforce. With a 10-year vision, the government’s strategy is about boosting investment, driving productivity, and preparing Britain to lead in sectors like digital, AI, clean energy, and advanced manufacturing.
Here’s what it means for apprenticeships and skills providers:
🔹 A New Skills & Growth Levy
From April 2026, the current Apprenticeship Levy will become the Growth & Skills Levy, enabling employers to fund not just apprenticeships but also flexible, shorter courses in priority areas such as digital, AI, engineering, and defence. This will give providers and employers more freedom to tailor training to sector needs and emerging technologies.
🔹 Expansion of Short Course Provision
Early next year, non-apprenticeship short courses will be rolled out, allowing adults and existing employees to upskill quickly in key sectors. For apprenticeship providers, this means a greater role in delivering modular training, supporting employers’ skills strategies, and diversifying the learning offer.
🔹 Significant Investment in Facilities and Capacity
The strategy brings major investment, over £1.2 billion a year by 2028-29, to expand technical education, upgrade facilities, and open new Technical Excellence Colleges in areas like engineering and defence. Apprenticeship providers will see opportunities to partner with industry, expand delivery, and innovate in new curriculum areas.
🔹 Focus on High-Value Skills for the Future
Skills England, working with providers, will ensure apprenticeship and technical training matches the needs of the fastest-growing sectors, including clean energy, advanced manufacturing, life sciences, creative industries, and the digital economy. There’s also a renewed push on digital skills, AI adoption, and lifelong learning.
🔹 Better Data, Accountability, and Outcomes
The strategy underlines the need for robust tracking of learner progression, outcomes, and return on investment for employers. Platforms like AiVII will play a crucial role in supporting providers to analyse data, evidence impact, and adapt quickly to new funding and delivery models.
What’s next?
For the apprenticeship sector, the Industrial Strategy is both a challenge and an opportunity, calling for greater agility, a closer partnership with employers, and a renewed focus on outcomes and impact.
At AiVII, we’re here to help providers and employers harness the power of their data, track performance across apprenticeships and new modular courses, and stay ahead of policy change.
Ready to talk about how AiVII can support your journey? Get in touch to learn more.
