In December 2024, University Alliance worked with partners across a broad range of sectors to coordinate a letter to the chancellor, calling on her to protect apprenticeship levy funding for Level 7 apprenticeships – the most advanced level of apprenticeship.
This was a response to the government indicating that they plan to prevent employers from using apprenticeship levy funding for Level 7 apprenticeships. The levy is paid by all large employers in the UK and is used by the government to fund apprenticeships.
Over 600 employers and apprentices signed the letter, and over 400 of them submitted testimonials outlining why they feel Level 7 apprenticeship funding is essential.
We’ve rounded up just a small sample of those testimonials to illustrate six compelling reasons why we believe this funding should be retained…
1. They help meet government targets
In the Autumn Budget it was announced that the Government would support 300 new planners into the planning system. The Chartered Town Planner apprenticeship is a vehicle through which a capacity boost can be delivered. With up to 70% of those studying the Chartered Town Planner apprenticeship working and training in Local Government, without access to levy funding they will not be able to train and enter the planning workforce.
Dr Victoria Hills, Chief Executive, Royal Town Planning Institute
Level 7 apprenticeships play a critical role in the Primary Care workforce, and Advanced Practice in particular. NHSE Digital Badge qualified Advanced Practitioners provide quality care for patients within a robust nationally agreed governance framework, particularly where there is a shortage of GPs. Without access to Level 7 apprenticeship funding this would not be affordable to Primary Care. Without these apprenticeships, the government strategy of increasing Advanced Practitioner numbers would fall at the first hurdle and add immense pressure on an already ‘at risk’ major component of the NHS. Over the last three years we have seen a steady increase across BSW Primary Care in uptake of Level 7 Advanced Practice Apprenticeships using transfer of Levy funds, with more planned in future years.
Dr Kevin Foreman, Education Facilitator, BaNES, Swindon and Wiltshire Primary Care Training Hub
2. They help fill crucial skills gaps
Level 7 apprenticeships enable us to create a talent pipeline in hard-to-recruit areas like law and planning. They enable us to develop our staff and retain them in the organisation, allowing those who have been unable to afford to go to university to gain professional qualifications. As a local authority with an increasingly restricted budget, we simply do not have money to fund such qualifications outside of the Levy, so the removal of L7 Levy funding would shut off this access to professional careers.
Karen Arnold, Apprenticeship & Development Coordinator, Buckinghamshire Council
Level 7 apprenticeship funding is crucial in enabling our General Practice workforce to gain access to academic opportunities, providing ‘on the job’ learning and creating a standard and level of practice that is considered invaluable in retaining the workforce and delivering on the NHSE frameworks. Without access to this funding, we would significantly reduce the number of individuals becoming NHSE accredited Advanced Practitioners, therefore failing on our pledge to increase these numbers and opening up the window for poor patient care and lack of professional integrity.
Kerri Magnus, Education & Development Lead and Advanced Practice Lead for General Practice, Bristol, North Somerset & South Gloucestershire (BNSSG) Primary Care Training Hub
We are currently developing a Level 7 apprenticeship standard for Tunnel Engineers, a specialised profession within the civil engineering industry which is highly relevant to the UK’s current and future infrastructure needs. Tunnel Engineering is a standalone occupation, for which a specialised skill set is required. The development of the standard was initiated because employers identified a lack of employees with the relevant skills in the UK and a lack of training opportunities available. To achieve chartered status with any one of a small number of relevant professional bodies, Tunnel Engineers are required to demonstrate sufficient experience and a relevant academic base, which is in the vast majority of cases provided by Level 7 training.
Dr Eyre Hover, Principal Engineering Consultant, CECL Global
3. They support well-managed public services
Level 7 apprenticeships are crucial in addressing the current and future challenges within the NHS. They empower our managers with the tools to lead effectively and ensure that our teams are well-equipped to deliver the highest standards of care. For our organisation, these programmes represent not just an investment in individuals but in the overall quality of care we provide to our patients.
Hardip Dosanjh, Apprenticeship and Early Careers Manager, St Georges NHS Trust University Hospital
4. They support opportunity for staff from all backgrounds, enhancing diversity in high-skilled and senior positions
Working with Level 6 apprentices in engineering many of them aspire to achieve Chartership with a professional body – this is generally not possible without Level 7 academic qualifications. By discontinuing Level 7 apprenticeships, you are disadvantaging graduating apprentices who may not financially be in a position to undertake a traditional Master’s degree. Essentially, this would turn being a Chartered Engineer into an elitist achievement, which the professional bodies have worked hard to rectify over the last few years.
Cate Anthony, Assistant Professor, British Tunnelling Society
I’m from a working-class background and grew up on a council estate. I went to work at 16 and did not have the chance to obtain a degree at school age. The apprenticeship scheme has given me the chance to obtain a nationally recognised qualification, receive some fantastic training and mentoring and has given me huge confidence at work. Our organisation, like many, does not have the money to send employees on this course otherwise so if the funding was cut it would see an end to senior management development and the knock-on benefits to other employees and the residents we serve.
Chris McAvoy, Head of Community Safety and Enforcement, London Borough of Havering
5. They aid staff retention
As a small organisation (Architectural company with less than 10 employees), the apprenticeship route to qualification is critical to our ability to retain valued members of staff and provide ‘on the job’ training whilst they undertake their academic endeavours.
Paul Mapstone, Director, BRL Design Group Ltd
6. Many organisations would not be able to fund the skills they need without funding for Level 7 apprenticeships
Level 7 apprenticeships are an essential to our charity and enable us to offer professional healthcare and leadership skills development that would otherwise need to be funded by taking funds directly from delivery of palliative care which we cannot afford to do.
Nerin Swanton, Learning and Development Manager, Sue Ryder
