Jessica O'ConnorThe Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has expressed serious concerns over new Government reforms aimed at boosting training and skills, warning that the measures could ultimately do more harm than good to the UK’s apprenticeship system.
Following the Government’s announcement today of 120,000 new training opportunities for young people, Lizzie Crowley, senior skills adviser at the CIPD, acknowledged the positive intent but questioned the effectiveness and depth of the proposed changes.
She said: “The Government’s announcement of 120,000 new training opportunities for young people is welcome recognition of the urgent need to address persistently high levels of youth unemployment, economic inactivity, and technical skills shortages.
“However, a more ambitious approach is needed to genuinely expand opportunities and rebalance the system in favour of young people, including an apprenticeship guarantee for all 16-24 years olds.”
While the reforms are framed as a step towards increasing youth participation, the CIPD argued that some of the measures are unlikely to have the desired effect.
One of the most contentious points is the decision to restrict government funding for all Level 7 (postgraduate-equivalent) apprenticeships to those aged 16 to 21.
According to Crowley, this move is unlikely to significantly increase youth involvement, as “fewer than one in 10 apprentices who train at this level fall within this age bracket.”
Crowley stressed that although rebalancing the system toward younger participants is an important goal, the approach taken by the government is too simplistic.
She reiterated the CIPD’s long-standing recommendation for a “more nuanced approach to managing the cost of delivering higher-level apprenticeships,” suggesting alternatives such as “reduced subsidies for older apprentices.”
Another major change included in the government’s reforms is the introduction of new foundation apprenticeships for 16- to 21-year-olds.
These are set to roll out this August, coinciding with a decision to lower the minimum duration of apprenticeships from 12 months to just eight.
The CIPD is highly critical of this move, warning that while expanding access is essential, shortening programmes “risks damaging the reputation and long-term credibility of apprenticeships.”
Crowley noted: “England already offers some of the shortest apprenticeships internationally.”
She cautioned that these shorter durations could further erode the quality and perception of apprenticeships in the UK.
To address the challenges and genuinely expand opportunities for young people, the CIPD called for a more comprehensive strategy.
At the heart of its recommendations is an “apprenticeship guarantee” for all 16- to 24-year-olds, underpinned by enhanced financial incentives for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
