Apprenticeship Statistics In The UK: Trends And Insights

​Apprenticeships have been around since Medieval times and while they suffered a dip in popularity in the late Nineties they’ve seen a strong resurgence in the last two decades. Today they remain one of the UK’s most important workforce development tools, helping young people and career changers gain practical on-the-job skills combined with essential classroom learning.

In recent years, the system has seen significant changes with new policies, funding reforms and sector-specific trends shaping the landscape. Here’s a closer look at the latest apprenticeship statistics UK employers and learners should be aware of.

Overall Trends Since The Apprenticeship Levy

Since the introduction of the Apprenticeship Levy in 2017, apprenticeship starts in England have declined by 31% overall. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have been hit particularly hard, recording a 49% drop in starts during this period.

The levy was designed to encourage companies to hire more apprentices, but critics argue it is overly complicated and has had the opposite effect with many businesses putting existing staff onto management apprenticeships rather than hiring new apprentices.

This decline has raised concerns about accessibility, particularly for smaller businesses that traditionally relied on apprenticeships as a cost-effective way to train new staff.

The Growth And Skills Levy

In response, the Government has announced that the Apprenticeship Levy is being replaced with the Growth and Skills Levy. Introduced in April 2025, levy-paying employers will now be able to use up to 50% of their contributions to fund shorter training routes other than apprenticeships, or shorter-duration apprenticeships.

This flexibility is designed to give businesses more control over how they invest in workforce skills, while aligning England’s system more closely with international models. It is hoped it will speed up the impact of apprenticeships, enable businesses to adapt to changes and avoid the long lead times of multi-year programmes.

For employers, this change could make apprenticeships part of a broader set of apprenticeship career pathways, blending traditional on-the-job learning with alternative training routes to meet specific workforce needs.

New Foundation Apprenticeships

Another significant reform is the introduction of foundation apprenticeships from August 2025. These programmes focus on critical sectors such as construction, engineering, health, and digital – the areas where skills shortages are most pressing. Foundation apprenticeships aim to provide young people with a first step into these industries, allowing them to earn while they learn and progress towards higher-level qualifications.

For HR and L&D managers, this creates a fresh opportunity to attract young talent into hard-to-fill roles, building future capability in essential sectors.

Funding Boost

To support these changes, the Government has announced a £345 million increase in the apprenticeship budget, bringing the total to £3.075 billion. This is the largest funding uplift since the levy’s introduction in 2017 and is intended to expand apprenticeship opportunities while addressing critical skills gaps across the economy.

It is also designed to specifically open up opportunities for young people to train in the careers most needed for the country to grow and prosper.

Sector-Specific Insights

While the overall number of apprenticeship starts has declined, not all sectors are experiencing the same trend. In 2023/24, engineering and technology-related apprenticeships grew by 1.6%, outpacing the 0.7% increase across all sectors. This reflects the urgent demand for technical skills to support infrastructure projects, net-zero ambitions and digital transformation.

For learners considering how to find an apprenticeship in the UK, this data highlights the growing value of technical and engineering pathways, where demand for skilled workers is likely to remain strong.

Curious how the latest apprenticeship trends could shape your career? Learn how Qualitrain can help to support your development by getting in touch with our team today!

​Image source: Canva