Mixed reactions to education, apprenticeship and skills reform 2025

1 Announcement in brief
- 1.1 Adjusted programmes
- 1.2 Adjusted funds
2 Comments and reactions
3 Related articles on Designing Buildings

[edit] Announcement in brief

On 27 May, 2025 the Department for Education announced a number of changes and additions to adult education, including a refocus of apprenticeship schemes, bootcamps and funding opportunities heralding the 'next generation of builders and carers set to rebuild Britain'. Details, comments and reactions to the proposals are summarised below.

[edit] Adjusted programmes

A 32% increase in the Immigration Skills Charge, to deliver up to 45,000 additional training places to upskill the domestic workforce and reduce reliance on migration in priority sectors.
A refocus away from Level 7 (masters-level) apprenticeships from January 2026, while maintaining support for those aged 16-21 and existing apprentices.
13 new Level 2 construction courses for adults in non-devolved areas.

[edit] Adjusted funds

In addition to the £3bn apprenticeship budget:

£14 million of adult skills funding for construction devolved to local mayors, for up to 5,000 adult learners.
£136 million for Skills Bootcamps across priority sectors in 2025-26, providing training to over 40,000 learners.
£100 million over four years to expand Construction Skills Bootcamps.
Ten Technical Excellence Colleges specialising in construction skills, opening in September 2025.

The Government said the measures are backed by a record-breaking £3 billion apprenticeship budget, and will open up opportunities for young people to succeed in careers the country needs to prosper. It will create more routes into skilled work meaning more people building affordable homes and more digital experts to push the economy forward. This includes an additional 30,000 apprenticeship over the current Parliament, an unprecedented investment and a critical step in delivering the government’s Plan for Change.

The government also confirmed board appointments to the new national body for skills, Skills England, which will work with employers and local leaders to shape training policy and delivery.

[edit] Comments and reactions

[edit] Education Secretary

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said:

"A skilled workforce is the key to steering the economy forward, and today we’re backing the next generation by giving young people more opportunities to learn a trade, earn a wage and achieve and thrive. When we invest in skills for young people, we invest in a shared, stronger economic future – creating opportunities as part of our Plan for Change. But everyone has a role to play in a thriving economy, and we’re taking our responsibility seriously providing more routes into employment, it’s now the responsibility of young people to take them."

Further comments at https://www.gov.uk/government/news/next-generation-of-builders-and-carers-set-to-rebuild-britain

[edit] The RIBA

The RIBA President, Muyiwa Oki, responded to the DfE reforms announcement that funding Level 7 (masters level) apprenticeships will cease from January 2026 for all but those aged 16 to 21 and diverted to lower level apprenticeships.

RIBA President, Muyiwa Oki said:

“While we welcome the emphasis on wider skills development, the decision to refocus funding away from Level 7 apprenticeships is a misguided and backwards step that will reduce access to a flexible, accessible, and inclusive route into the architecture profession. This arbitrary age cut off will negatively impact the number of architecture apprentices, at both Level 7 and likely Level 6, and will ultimately have the opposite effect of the government’s intention to get more young people into apprenticeships. We’ve worked closely with the government and parliamentarians to promote the value of Level 7 architecture apprenticeships, but our work is not over; we continue to advocate for architecture apprenticeships and the value they bring to the profession and society.”

https://www.architecture.com/knowledge-and-resources/knowledge-landing-page/riba-reacts-to-defunding-of-level-7-apprenticeships

[edit] The NHBC

Roger Morton, Director of Business Change at the National House Building Council (NHBC) said

“Today’s announcement signals a major and welcome shift in how we train the next generation of skilled workers, particularly in house building, one of the UK’s most critical industries. With 120,000 new training opportunities and a £3 billion apprenticeship budget, the Government is rightly focusing on providing young people with access to high-quality, hands-on routes into skilled work. As the UK’s largest warranty and insurance provider, quality is at the heart of everything we do and we’re pleased to see this reflected in the Government’s plan.

Our £100 million investment in 12 new multi-skill apprenticeship training hubs across the UK over the next five years will shake-up and help to tackle the house building skills shortage head-on. At capacity, the NHBC Training Hubs will initially train 3,000 learners a year in the most essential and critically required trades, including bricklaying, carpentry and groundwork. The multi-skill training hubs prepare trainees to be site-ready from day one, trained to the highest industry standard and so ensuring new homes are built to the highest quality.

In addition to apprenticeships, the NHBC Multi-Skill Training Hubs will deliver construction skills bootcamps, providing flexible, fast-track and immersive training for people looking to enter or progress within the house-building industry. This blended approach ensures we can support a wide range of learners and employers with high-quality, practical training.

We also welcome the Government’s wider investment in foundation apprenticeships and the expansion of adult training. These initiatives will play a vital role in rebuilding a strong, domestic workforce. This is about more than just getting people into jobs. It is also about delivering homes of quality that meet the nation’s needs and expectations.”

https://www.nhbc.co.uk/insights-and-media/news/national-house-building-council-responds-to-governments-skills-reform-announcement

[edit] CIOB

David Barnes, acting head of policy and public affairs at CIOB said:

“Changes to apprenticeships are very much needed to increase the number of people entering the construction sector, so the government’s attention to this important matter is very welcome,” said David Barnes, acting head of policy and public affairs at CIOB.

However, we have some concerns that shorter periods of learning could lead to lower quality outcomes for apprentices and employers, which in turn could impact the quality and safety of the projects they go on to work on. We could also see higher rates of drop out due to the pressures of undertaking skilled and complex learning in a compressed period of time, particularly when so many are adult learners with families.

We’re in favour of streamlining processes to reduce the delays currently experienced by many construction apprentices, for example at the assessment stage, but maintaining high standards and competency must remain a top priority.”

https://constructionmanagement.co.uk/naw-2025-government-relaxes-apprenticeship-rules/

[edit] RICS

RICS comments on UK Government announcement on skills reform and investment:

“The RICS UK Construction Monitor routinely records significant skills and labour shortages in the UK’s construction sector. These shortages stifle existing and future construction projects, including, perhaps most crucially, the UK Government’s target to construct 1.5 million new homes. This announcement provides a welcome boost to apprenticeship opportunities and supports the pipeline for driving fresh talent and upskilling seasoned labourers and professionals.

“Devolving decision-making to local mayors for the £14 million of adult skills funding for construction is a positive step and should make resource allocation more closely aligned with local plans. £100 million over four years to expand the Construction Skills Bootcamps as well as the ten new Technical Excellence Colleges opening across the country in September should provide the keys for each region to reap the benefits of this investment.

“RICS has called for greater equity and inclusion within the sector, opening the skills pipeline to communities under represented in the built environment. We also continue to advocate for a built environment GCSE qualification in England, like existing qualifications in Scotland and Wales. So, whilst this is welcome progress, there are still many other possibilities to enhance skills and labour access in the industry and reinvigorate it in time to meet ambitious targets.”