Prime Minister Announces New Apprenticeships Target
30.09.2025
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has today announced plans to end the 50% target for all young people to attend university and replace it with a new one for two-thirds of young people to either go to university or do a “gold standard apprenticeship."
To support these reforms, the Government is set to invest nearly £800 million in extra funding next year to help 16 to 19-year-olds.
The new target also includes an ambition for 10% of young people to be pursuing higher technical education or apprenticeships that the economy needs by 2040.
While plans for 14 new Technical Excellence Colleges were also announced, which will be focused on sectors like advanced manufacturing, clean energy and digital.
Read our reaction below.
For far too long quality Apprenticeships have been undervalued and not as comparable in esteem to a degree, As such, industry will give a strong welcome to the Prime Minister’s emphasis on their importance, the advanced skill levels they involve and the fact we now have a target of equal value to University that we have long advocated for.
"This also includes Degree Apprenticeships which provide a valuable, alternative pathway and are strongly supported by manufacturers. Manufacturers will also welcome an endorsement from the highest office of the importance of the sector to our economy at national and regional level, our security and national resilience.
