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The changes to apprenticeships in construction, engineering, and healthcare

The government plans to create 120,000 new apprenticeship and training opportunities in England before the next general election, focusing on sectors like construction, engineering, and healthcare, to bolster the workforce and reduce reliance on migrant workers.
Funding for up to 45,000 training places will be sourced by increasing the Immigration Skills Charge paid by employers recruiting from overseas by one-third.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson emphasised the importance of this investment in skills for young people, highlighting its role in driving the economy forward and creating opportunities.
From January 2026, funding will shift away from masters-level apprenticeships to focus on lower-level training, while support will be maintained for those aged 16-21 and existing apprentices.
The Law Society has urged the Government to continue funding masters-level apprenticeships for those over 21, while Shadow Education Minister Neil O’Brien warned that scrapping higher apprenticeships will damage public services and limit access to professions for young people not attending university.