Changes to the way apprenticeships are funded could make it harder for nurses to move up the career ladder, universities have warned.
The University Vocational Awards Council (UVAC) this week published a survey of 52 university members on plans by the UK Government to overhaul apprenticeships.
“We’d therefore urge the government to ring-fence the funding of apprenticeships across all ages and levels”
Mandy Crawford-Lee
In September 2024, prime minister Sir Keir Starmer and education secretary Bridget Phillipson announced an intention to replace the existing apprenticeship levy – a pot of money generated by contributions from large employers used to fund apprenticeships – with a new ‘growth and skills levy’.
With this change, the government said it was looking to “rebalance” the funding towards investing in “younger workers”, targeting in particular lower-level apprenticeships.
Meanwhile, criteria for the funding of level 7 apprenticeships, which are equivalent to a master’s degree, would be tightened.
Specialist apprenticeships often taken by nurses to advance their career in school nursing, health visiting, advanced clinical practice, community nursing and other areas are likely to be impacted.
The level 7 apprenticeship cuts have previously been criticised by UVAC’s leadership, as well as other organisations such as the University Alliance.
The new UVAC survey reveals the concerns of universities delivering courses.
Of the respondents, 69% said the changes would “deter” employers from providing nurses opportunities to improve their skills via higher-level and degree apprenticeships.
Meanwhile, 81% said they were concerned that the new levy would lead to a reduction in the number of employers taking on apprentices aged 25 and over, and 89% said the focus on foundation apprenticeships for younger people would come “at the expense” of higher-level courses.
Further, just over half (55%) warned that the government’s proposed changes would lead to a decline in the number of new nursing apprentices from underserved sections of the population.
All 52 universities told UVAC that the level 7 apprenticeship funding cuts would reduce the number of employers offering these courses, and that this would have an impact on healthcare.
The vast majority (94%) said the cuts would lead to less opportunities for employers to upskill their existing workforce.
“Our reforms will ensure that there is more focus on young people”
Government spokesperson
Three-quarters said the cuts would reduce the number of people achieving senior-level roles within organisations, and a similar amount said it would cause a “shortfall” in filling specialist or technical positions.
Dr Mandy Crawford-Lee, UVAC chief executive, said the survey “lifted the lid” on concerns the sector had about the growth and skills levy.
“Many universities are worried about the impact these reforms will have on healthcare employers which rely heavily on higher and degree apprenticeships to address skills gaps, drive business growth, promote diversity and develop those in senior and technical roles,” said Dr Crawford-Lee.
Around a third (30%) said the changes would worsen bureaucracy and administration and 39% warned it would lead to more unused funds returning to the Treasury, two concerns some apprenticeship providers had with the existing levy.
On the other hand, 39% of survey respondents said the changes could have a positive impact for employers wanting to provide shorter apprenticeships.
Dr Crawford-Lee added: “We wholeheartedly support Labour’s drive to engage more younger people in apprenticeships, but this must not be at the cost of growing the number of programmes at higher and degree level.
“We’d therefore urge the government to ring-fence the funding of apprenticeships across all ages and levels and even invest more given that it has outlined its commitment to growing the UK economy and addressing the skills gap.”
A government spokesperson said: “We inherited a broken NHS and through our Plan for Change we are taking action to fix it.
“Our reforms will ensure that there is more focus on young people, giving them the best possible start at the beginning of their career.
“We are working closely with NHS England, Skills England and a range of stakeholders across the sector to ensure the NHS has the skilled workforce that patients need and will soon publish a refreshed workforce plan to reflect this.”
