The majority of master’s-equivalent nursing apprenticeships will no longer be funded by the government, it has been announced.
Funding for all level 7 apprenticeships will be removed from January 2026, unless the apprentice is aged 16-21 or is already on the course when the change comes in.
“Many employers depend on the apprenticeship levy to fund leadership, specialist and advanced nursing education”
Nicola Ranger
Level 7 apprenticeships are equivalent to a master’s degree and are typically undertaken by older adults looking to progress in their careers.
These, in nursing, include specialised apprenticeships in school nursing, health visiting, advanced clinical practice, community nursing and others.
Under the changes, a nurse seeking to undertake a level 7 apprenticeship after January 2026 would rely on the employer to shoulder the entire cost of the course.
The move by the government to scrap funding altogether followed a tightening of the criteria last year.
It comes as the money for level 7 apprenticeships is due to be “refocused” towards more apprenticeship schemes for younger people at a lower level.
This, the government said, would make the “greatest impact”.
However, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has heavily criticised the move and said it “undermines” the government’s “big shifts” for the NHS, in particular the shift of care from hospitals to the community.
Professor Nicola Ranger, chief executive and general secretary, said: “Making it more difficult for employers to fund training and education for advanced clinical specialist nursing roles makes little sense.
“Many employers depend on the apprenticeship levy to fund leadership, specialist and advanced nursing education.
“Without this funding, employers will not be able to cover the costs and even more critical nursing roles, in areas such as community, district and mental health nursing, will be left unfilled.”
Professor Ranger added: “If the UK Government wants to transform care and address the nursing workforce crisis, restricting the ability of people to become advanced clinical specialists and leaders is the last thing it should be doing.”
According to the Department for Education’s announcement today (27 May), around 120,000 new training opportunities will be created through the reforms, with £3bn set aside for apprenticeships and further money for other learn-through-work schemes.
As well as cutting level 7 apprenticeships, the government’s changes are being funded by increasing the Immigration Skills Charge.
The apprenticeship reforms were also criticised by Mandy Crawford-Lee, chief executive of the University Vocational Awards Council (UVAC).
In a statement posted to UVAC’s website, Ms Crawford-Lee said the funding cuts would “adversely affect all but a very small number” of level 7 programmes.
She had previously criticised the government’s other shifts away from higher-level apprenticeships, warning that cutting funding for them would be a “major blow” to employers in health, as well as other sectors.
Ms Crawford-Lee said: “It is disappointing that this government places little emphasis on the link between skills and productivity.
“Our view remains – there is no reason to expect that by reducing level 7 funding eligibility it will make lower levels more attractive to employers or be appropriate to address the real concern about the number of young people not in employment, education or training.”
She warned that the cuts would “do nothing but harm public sector plans” to develop the skills of the workforce.
“Sadly, for now, we can no longer advocate on behalf of an all age, all level apprenticeship system that is aspirational for everyone,” she added.
Announcing the reforms, 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.”
