The Department for Education have released details of additional flexibility coming to apprenticeships.
When adult learners over the age of 19 start their apprenticeship course, businesses will now be able to decide whether they need to complete a level 2 English and Maths qualification (equivalent to a GCSE) in order to pass the course.
The Department for Education stressed that apprentices will still be assessed on the core English and Maths skills that are relevant to the work they do. However, they will be able to focus more on their paid work for the benefit of both themselves and the businesses that employ them. These changes to English and Maths requirements have taken immediate effect.
In addition, from August, the minimum duration of an apprenticeship is being reduced from the current 12 month minimum to 8 months. The reduction in the minimum duration of an apprenticeship will give apprentices under the age of 19 the opportunity to progress onto National Minimum Wage more quickly. Apprentices under 19 or in the first year of their apprenticeship are currently paid £6.40p/h, although this is set to rise to £7.55 from April 2025. National Minimum Wage is currently £8.60 for 18-20 year olds (rising to £10 from April 2025), so being able to complete an apprenticeship quicker will enable workers in this age bracket to gain a significant pay rise.
It is estimated that these changes could lead to up to 10,000 more apprentices a year being able to complete their apprenticeship, as well as helping learners qualify more quickly in high-demand sectors such as healthcare, social care and construction.
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