What are Foundation Apprenticeships and who are they for?

This week details of the first seven Foundation Apprenticeships were revealed – so this is an opportunity to give an overview to set out how they’ll work.

What are Foundation Apprenticeships and who are they for?

Foundation Apprenticeships are aimed primarily at young people aged 16–21, though those aged 15 may also be eligible if their birthday falls between the last Friday in June and 31 August. The programme is also open to individuals aged 22–24 if they have an Education, Health and Care Plan, are care-experienced, or are in prison or recently released.

Only providers listed on the Apprenticeship Provider and Assessment Register (APAR) can deliver Foundation Apprenticeships. The current minimum programme length is eight months, and all apprentices must be employed—either directly or through a registered Flexi-Job Apprenticeship Agency.

Available routes and funding from August 2025

Initial programmes will be available across key sectors with the following funding bands:

Construction: Building services engineering, finishing trades, and onsite trades (£4,000 each)
Digital: Hardware, network and infrastructure; software and data (£4,000 each)
Other: Engineering and manufacturing (£4,500); health and social care (£3,000)

Standards and Assessment Plans can be found here (search by Apprenticeship Type): Apprenticeship search / Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education 

Maths and English requirements

For 16–18-year-olds, studying towards maths and English qualifications is mandatory (55 guided learning hours each), although taking the final assessments is optional. For those aged 19–24, maths and English are entirely optional.

Incentives

A range of financial incentives are available:

Providers and employers receive a £1,000 payment for supporting 16–18-year-olds (paid in two parts).
Employers can receive up to £2,000 more to help with recruitment and retention, with part of this linked to apprentices progressing onto further apprenticeship programmes.
Eligible care leavers can access a £3,000 bursary, paid in three instalments throughout the programme.

Overall, Foundation Apprenticeships are designed to provide a flexible, funded entry point into the workforce for young people, with support and incentives for employers and providers to drive engagement and progression.