Training programs no longer stipulate Maths and English GCSE qualifications for apprenticeships.
In the ever-evolving world of work, the United Kingdom's apprenticeship system is undergoing significant changes. The recent reforms, aimed at increasing flexibility, reducing bureaucratic barriers, and targeted funding changes, are designed to improve completion rates and address skills shortages.
Wiser Academy, a leading provider of insurance industry training, has welcomed these reforms as a positive step towards removing barriers to entry and upskilling the workforce. According to Lauren Pullen, Director of Operations at Wiser Academy, these reforms represent a positive shift for both learners and employers.
One of the key changes is the removal of the traditional 'end-point assessment' model, which has been replaced by a modular and synoptic approach built into the full programme. This shift allows End-point Assessment Organisations (EPAOs) to share assessment responsibilities with training providers, making programmes more flexible for employers and learners.
Another significant change is the abolition of mandatory English and Maths qualifications for apprentices aged 19+ (if not already held). This reform is expected to enable around 10,000 more apprentices to complete their training annually by removing academic barriers, especially benefiting disadvantaged groups and sectors with critical skill shortages like construction.
Functional Skills Requirement Changes, effective from February 2025, will also see apprentices aged 19 and over no longer mandated by government policy to pass English and Maths functional skills exams to complete their apprenticeship. This reform is expected to provide more flexibility for employers and apprentices.
Funding and Training Delivery Changes, set to take effect from August 2025, will bring about several transformative changes. The minimum apprenticeship duration has been reduced from 12 to 8 months, and the prior rule that required 20% of an apprentice's time to be "off-the-job" (OTJ) training has been replaced with apprenticeship-specific minimum OTJ requirements. Recognition of prior learning is strengthened, allowing for accelerated programmes and reduced costs.
The full implementation of these reforms will be phased in standard-by-standard. It is important to note that, from January 2026, the government will limit funding for advanced (Level 7) apprenticeships to young people aged 16–21 and certain vulnerable groups under 25. This move aims to prioritise workforce entry for young people but potentially restricts access for older learners seeking high-level qualifications.
These reforms have far-reaching implications for various stakeholders. Employers, for instance, gain greater flexibility in designing apprenticeship programmes without mandatory functional skills tests for adults, helping them fill skills gaps faster. Training Providers, like Wiser Academy, must adjust programmes to comply with new OTJ requirements, conduct robust assessments of prior learning, and offer more flexible scheduling.
For insurers and brokers, while direct impacts are not explicitly detailed, they may be affected indirectly. More apprenticeships completed could reduce skill shortages and improve workforce stability, influencing risk profiles for businesses. Changes in apprenticeship lengths and structure might also affect liability considerations around training-related workplace incidents and insurance coverage of training activities.
Wiser Academy, which is marking its second successful year of its Introduction to Insurance Bootcamp Programme, launched in 2023, will soon host a free webcast to discuss these changes in detail, and all employers are welcome to join. Furthermore, Wiser Academy has been awarded 'Outstanding' by Ofsted, making it the only educational establishment in the insurance sector to achieve this status.
These reforms are designed to make apprenticeships more accessible, flexible, and aligned with employer needs, particularly benefiting sectors with acute skills shortages while reshaping funding priorities to emphasize youth employment and training pathways.
- Wiser Academy, in light of the apprenticeship reforms, has seen these changes as a positive move towards increasing accessibility, especially in online education related to the insurance industry.
- As a result of the reforms, there would be a rise in events focusing on education and self-development in the online-learning sphere, as providers like Wiser Academy share insights on the adaptations needed to meet the evolving requirements of apprenticeships.
