Event Summary

The apprenticeship system is entering one of its most significant periods of reform in a decade, driven by the introduction of the Growth and Skills Levy, alongside wider plans to reshape funding, delivery, and assessment.

We are pleased to bring Westminster Insight’s popular The Future of Apprenticeships Conference to Newcastle this July. Chaired by Pat Carvalho, President, Association of Colleges, the event will bring together key policymakers, employers, and apprenticeship providers from across the North East to explore the evolving landscape of apprenticeships.

Gain insight on new funding including the government’s £725 million reform package aimed at supporting 50,000 new apprenticeships over the next 3 years. We will discuss next steps for the implementation of the Growth and Skills Levy and how your organisation can make the most of it. Understand the impact to funding, particularly in terms of support for SMEs and the shift away from Level 7 apprenticeships.

With Ofqual’s new Apprenticeship Assessment Regulatory Framework setting out requirements and guidance for the assessment process, understand the impact of the reforms on apprentices, providers, and employers. We will spotlight new flexible approaches to assessing apprentices, while ensuring the system remains credible, consistent, and trusted by employers.

We will hear directly from Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs) on strengthening employer-led regional skills intelligence and aligning post-16 education and training with local labour market needs.

Getting to grips with upcoming reforms, we will spotlight increased flexibility through apprenticeship units, the introduction of a new apprenticeship clearing system, and plans to review and update more than 700 apprenticeship standards by August 2026.

With the Government prioritising action to reduce youth unemployment and tackle rising NEET rates, understand what support is available for your organisation to recruit and support young apprentices. As apprenticeship starts have declined significantly over the past decade, we will consider how to tackle stigma and position apprenticeships as an attractive and credible post-16 pathway.

We will explore how to deliver high-quality apprenticeship programmes that build lifelong skills and support career progression. Understand how apprenticeships can be used to address critical skills shortages across sectors. Hearing from a range of northern employers and apprenticeships providers, find out how apprenticeship programmes can remain innovative, up to date, and accessible to a diverse range of learners.

Don’t miss this opportunity to prepare for the future of apprenticeships in the UK.

Key Points

  • Understanding reforms and the policy landscape for Apprenticeships and Skills
  • The 2025-2026 Apprenticeships Funding Rules: addressing the Growth & Skills Levy, funding opportunities for SMEs and the impact of Level 7 funding withdrawal
  • Preparing for changes to the assessment process: moving away from EPAs to the new Apprenticeship Assessment Regulatory Framework
  • Understanding the implications of shorter and more flexible apprenticeship options
  • Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs): driving employer-led approaches to aligning skills provision with regional labour market demand
  • If you want it to sit neatly in your Wales/UK comparison context, I can also tailor a version that contrasts LSIPs with Regional Skills Partnerships in Wales.
  • Encouraging young people and NEET to take up apprenticeships
  • Supporting SMEs and first-time employers to take on apprentices
  • Addressing workforce demands and skills shortages through apprenticeships
  • Building high-quality apprenticeship programmes: protecting employer confidence, embedding inclusivity, and promoting social mobility
  • Encouraging skills for life through apprenticeships: the lifelong learning entitlement

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Group discounts

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