Last month, the UK Government announced a set of reforms to the way apprenticeships are to be delivered. These changes have been designed to remove some of the barriers to accessing these programmes, while at the same time reducing the timeframes for delivery in some cases.
These reforms to apprenticeship delivery, particularly the changes to the English and maths requirements, present both opportunities and challenges for education providers like Activate Apprenticeships.
As an organisation deeply committed to fostering a growth mindset in all our learners, we welcome these reforms, while also emphasising our core belief in the lifelong value of developing strong literacy and numeracy skills.
We have always championed the importance of English and maths as foundational skills essential to personal growth, career progression and effective engagement in society.
We maintain the position that achieving GCSE-level qualifications in these subjects significantly enhances learners’ prospects. Indeed, research from the Association of Employment and Learning Providers found that 72% of apprenticeship job adverts explicitly required applicants to hold at least a GCSE grade 4 or C in English and maths, highlighting how vital these qualifications remain to employability.
However, we also recognise and appreciate the greater flexibility introduced by the recent government announcement. The decision to remove the mandatory requirement for Level 2 English and maths qualifications for apprentices aged 19 and over can significantly reduce barriers to completion. According to a recent Aptem study involving data from over 160,000 apprentices during the 2023-24 academic year, mandatory Functional Skills qualifications in English and maths can negatively impact completion rates by extending programme duration and increasing dropout rates.
This flexibility acknowledges the reality that for some apprentices and employers, particularly in vocational sectors with specific technical demands, the traditional requirement may not align directly with their immediate professional needs. Where both apprentice and employer agree that Functional Skills qualifications are not necessary or beneficial, we fully support this choice and will promptly implement the exemption. Our goal is always to serve the best interests of our learners, balancing educational ideals with practical realities.
In these instances, our commitment remains firm. We will ensure apprentices still benefit from tailored training programmes that embed contextualised learning of literacy and numeracy skills relevant to their chosen career paths. This bespoke approach ensures apprentices continue to develop essential skills in a manner directly relevant to their professional roles.
We will fully embrace these reforms, viewing them as an opportunity to further personalise apprenticeship training, making vocational education more accessible and responsive to learners’ diverse needs and aspirations.
By combining flexibility with our ongoing commitment to cultivating a growth mindset, we aim to empower all our apprentices to achieve their full potential, both personally and professionally.
Find out more about Activate Apprenticeships.
