2026: A pivotal year ahead for skills
The year ahead will be a pivotal year for skills and apprenticeships, as reforms already agreed begin to land in practice. As the Labour Government seeks to demonstrate action on growth, productivity and opportunity, apprenticeships are likely to feature more prominently in political debate.
We expect this will mean:
- Skills provision – including apprenticeships – will be a hot topic on a constituency basis, with local availability and quality becoming an issue 'on the doorstep'.
- More public interest in apprenticeship access, quality and progression.
- Greater scrutiny of local provision, inspection outcomes and employer engagement.
- A fast-moving policy environment where implementation, not just strategy, will be under the spotlight.
Apprenticeship reform
- Level 7 apprenticeships close to new starters aged 21 and over, this month marking a clear shift in funding priorities.
- Apprenticeship assessment reform will begin to take effect, with changes to end-point assessment and regulatory oversight moving from design to delivery.
- Shorter apprenticeships, delivered through new “apprenticeship units”, will start to emerge. Take-up is likely to be cautious at first, but this is a significant structural change.
New routes for young people
- Foundation Apprenticeships will move from concept to reality, particularly in high-volume sectors such as hospitality, retail and care. These will be earmarked as an accessible entry route for younger learners against a backdrop of nearly a million young people out of education, employment or training.
Inspection and regulation
- The first inspection reports under Ofsted’s new framework will be published early in the year, setting expectations for quality, accountability and improvement across providers.
- Skills England is expected to take a more assertive role, with greater influence over priorities, funding alignment and employer engagement.
- Skills policy will increasingly be framed around supporting young people into work, meeting employer demand and showing visible economic impact.
Support for MPs
As 2026 progresses, timely, practical information will be essential. AELP works with hundreds of independent training providers delivering apprenticeships and skills training nationwide, and is on hand to support MPs throughout this vital year with briefings, local insight and guidance on what reforms mean on the ground. Please do get in touch, or attend our monthly drop-in session if there’s anything you’d like to talk to us about.
The Association of Employment and Learning Providers (AELP) is a national membership body, proudly representing organisations operating in the skills sector. AELP members deliver a range of training and vocational learning – including the majority of apprenticeships as well as Skills Bootcamps, 16-19 Study Programme, Adult Education Budget and more.
For further information or interviews please contact Matt Strong, Communications Manager, AELP, on 07920 161685 or [email protected]