Apprenticeship Insights | 🎤Behind the Scenes of an EPA

Accelerate People at The Big Apprentice Meetup - Mancehster | 2nd May

We’re excited to share that Accelerate People is proudly sponsoring this year’s Big Apprentice Meetup in Manchester! A fantastic event that brings together apprentices, employers, and training providers from across the country.

As part of the day, Zac Aldridge, Executive Director at Accelerate People, will be sharing insights in his talk: “Behind the Scenes of an End Point Assessment.”

If you’ve ever wondered what goes into a great EPA—and why it matters—this is a session you won’t want to miss.

Accelerate People would love to connect during the event. If you're curious about how they're helping to raise the bar in end-point assessment, they'd be happy to have a chat!

👉Book a meeting with the team here!

WORKPLACE UPSKILLING

AI Literacy Emerges as Essential for Business Success and Workforce Competitiveness

AI literacy has become a fundamental expectation for businesses following the recent implementation of the EU’s AI Act, which enforces strict regulations to protect privacy and prevent misuse of AI technologies. Companies now face both the impetus and obligation to educate employees—developers and users alike—on responsible AI deployment. This is not merely a compliance exercise; fostering a baseline understanding of AI across the workforce enhances operational efficiency, narrows digital skills gaps, and encourages innovation.

Recent Coursera data underscores the shift: demand for Generative AI courses surged by up to 1,600% among jobseekers and 1,100% among the employed, illustrating a clear recognition of AI’s growing role in employability. However, a persistent gender gap remains, with women making up only about a third of learners in this sector. Targeted strategies to address these disparities can unlock further innovation and create a more diverse, future-ready talent pool.

SKILLS DEVELOPMENT POLICY

Skills England Leaders Sidestep Questions on Further Education Funding Decisions

Skills England’s leadership clarified that decisions on further education funding rest squarely with ministers, rather than the agency itself. While the agency is committed to providing robust data and evidence on skills shortages and training needs, it avoided direct answers on whether it would lobby for improved resources or challenge underfunding. Instead, Skills England emphasised its role as a convenor for providers, employers, and local governments, focusing on opportunities and collaboration rather than barriers.

The agency is poised to inherit technical education and apprenticeship standards from the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education, promising clearer communication and greater alignment across the skills landscape. With upcoming board appointments and a holistic view on training solutions, there is hope the agency can drive progress—provided it can navigate its reliance on ministerial decisions and maintain genuine influence across government.

EDUCATION ACQUISITION

Babington Joins Paragon Skills At Knovia Group Amid Financial Restructuring And Growth Plans

Babington, a long-established apprenticeship provider, has joined the Knovia Group alongside Paragon Skills, following escalating financial losses and an ongoing government investigation into subcontracted traineeship irregularities. Babington had reported losses rising from £3.8 million to £5.1 million year-on-year and has set aside almost £2 million for potential government clawbacks related to historic learner data manipulation claims.

This acquisition signals a strategic opportunity for Babington to stabilise and innovate, leveraging Knovia’s robust platform. With unique sector strengths—Babington’s long-standing delivery in areas such as accountancy and management complemented by Paragon’s expertise in care and business administration—the partnership aims to enhance learner outcomes and vocational training quality. Both organisations remain rated “good” by Ofsted, though their qualification achievement rates still trail the sector average, underscoring potential for growth and improvement.

YOUTH EMPLOYMENT BARRIERS

Employers Can Reduce Barriers and Create More Job Opportunities For Young People

With nearly one million young people in the UK not in education, employment, or training, bridging the gap between potential and opportunity is urgent. Employers often cite a lack of experience and critical skills as barriers, yet research clearly demonstrates that prior experience is a poor predictor of job performance. Overreliance on paper qualifications and traditional recruitment channels further disadvantages young candidates, especially those without established networks or formal credentials.

Adopting more inclusive recruitment practices—such as strengths-based assessments, partnerships with community organisations, and structured support programmes—can help employers tap into underused young talent. Practical support for SMEs, better local coordination, and targeted financial incentives are also pivotal. Meaningful employer engagement with the Youth Guarantee, paired with focused interventions to prepare young people for work, can build a resilient, diverse future workforce and foster long-term business growth.

EDUCATION FUNDING

Government Halves T Levels Funding Rate Uplift to Five Per Cent

The halving of the T Level funding rate uplift to 5 per cent for 2025-26 signals a recalibration in government investment, coming after an underspend of £688 million linked to low student uptake. While the Department for Education will still increase overall national funding rates by 3.78 per cent for 16 to 19 study programmes, the T Level-specific component is now significantly reduced—affecting funding for all programme bands.

Colleges had anticipated clarity but are left navigating reduced support for qualifications that demand higher teaching hours and currently run with smaller cohort sizes. Despite the challenge, the move invites education leaders to rethink delivery approaches and efficiency, particularly as adult skills allocations also face reductions. Leveraging lessons from these adjustments can position institutions to build resilience and sustain T Level development, encouraging ongoing innovation in technical education.

LABOUR MARKET TRENDS

Employers Prioritise Graduate Skills Over Technical Knowledge In Recruitment Trends

Employers are shifting their hiring priorities, focusing less on graduates’ age, education, and technical qualifications, and more on adaptability, behavioural skills, and capabilities. Notably, 68% of early career employers have adopted or partially adopted skills-based hiring, with an additional 29% considering this approach. Factors such as technological disruption, demographic shifts, and tight labour markets are driving this evolution.

This new emphasis demands that higher education institutions move beyond traditional knowledge delivery, integrating campus-wide skills development to produce resilient, agile graduates ready for diverse and changing roles. Graduates who can demonstrate self-awareness, resilience, and personal career management will be highly valued, giving UK higher education a prime opportunity to align graduate skillsets with employer needs and foster economic growth.

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

Goldman Sachs Pledges £1.5 Million To Support West Midlands Apprenticeships

Goldman Sachs’ £1.5 million pledge to the West Midlands Combined Authority’s apprenticeship fund demonstrates a significant investment in local talent development. By leveraging its Apprenticeship Levy contribution, the bank directly supports small and medium-sized enterprises, charities, and social enterprises, with a targeted emphasis on digital skills—an area of growing strategic importance.

This commitment is acknowledged by Mayor Richard Parker, who cites the impact on thousands of new placements and apprenticeships. With the region’s scheme already securing £50 million and creating 4,800 apprenticeships, Goldman Sachs’ involvement not only strengthens Birmingham’s workforce pipeline but also sets a compelling precedent for large firms to actively nurture regional skills and economic resilience.

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