New apprenticeship funding rules May 2025 – here’s what you need to know

Big changes are on the way for apprenticeships in the UK! In May 2025, the government will release the new apprenticeship funding rules for 2025 to 2026. These rules explain how money will be given to support apprenticeship programmes—and there are a few updates you should know about.

What’s changing?

So far there is little information as to what these changes are going to be, until the announcement in May. The updated rules will cover how apprenticeships are funded, and may also include changes to how they work. This could include new types of apprenticeships and updates to current training policies. This therefore will only impact the employer and not apprentices themselves.

Foundation apprenticeships

One area that might see a big focus is foundation apprenticeships. These programmes help students learn on the job while also earning a qualification. They’re a great way to get started in a career and might become more widely available under the new rules.

Off-the-job training

Another possible change is to the off-the-job training policy. This is the time apprentices spend away from their regular job tasks to learn new skills. The new rules might adjust how much time needs to be spent on this kind of training.

When do the new rules start?

If you’re starting an apprenticeship before 1 August 2025, the current (2024-2025) rules still apply. But if you start on or after 1 August 2025, the new 2025-2026 rules will be used.

Keep an eye out in May for the official release! These updates could help shape your future career.