UK promises 50,000 new apprenticeships, rolls out new short courses on AI, engineering and digital skills
The UK Government has announced £725 million in funding for apprenticeship training, as it aims to train 50,000 young people in a bid to tackle youth unemployment.
The Government is also launching new short courses in areas including AI, engineering, and digital skills, which it says will start rolling out in April 2026. The new courses will include a suite of work-based training options developed with the defence sector to help upskill existing workforces.
Young people, particularly those not currently in education, employment or training will be offered apprenticeship opportunities with local employers.
The Government says it will cover the full cost of apprenticeships for eligible young people at small and medium businesses.
“For too long, success has been measured by how many young people go to university. That narrow view has held back opportunity and created barriers we need to break,’ Prime Minister Keir Starmer says.
“If you choose an apprenticeship, you should have the same respect and opportunity as everyone else. That’s why the Government is investing £1.5 billion through the Youth Guarantee and the Growth and Skills Levy - creating 50,000 more apprenticeships and foundation apprenticeships for young people over the next three years.
“It’s time to change the way apprenticeships are viewed and to put them on an equal footing with university. This is a defining cause for this government and a key step towards our ambition to get two-thirds of young people in higher-level learning or apprenticeships.”
The number of young people choosing apprenticeships in England has decreased by almost 40 percent in the last ten years. This latest announcement aims to help support young people into high-quality training and employment.
Pat McFadden, Work and Pensions Secretary, adds: “This funding is a downpayment on young people’s futures and the future of the country, creating real pathways into good jobs and providing work experience, skills training and guaranteed employment.”
