STORY
The Prime Minister has set out plans to put apprenticeships on a more equal footing with university degrees, arguing that the current system has held too many young people back. The Government says small businesses will be able to take on young apprentices with training fully funded from August.
Ministers say the reforms are intended to remove barriers to opportunity and give employers the workforce they need to grow. The announcement forms part of a broader post-16 education and skills agenda, with apprenticeships being presented as a central route into secure work rather than a secondary option.
The policy will be judged by whether it increases the number of high-quality apprenticeship places and improves outcomes for young people. Businesses are likely to welcome additional support, but the Government will still need to show that funding, training standards and employer participation are strong enough to deliver sustained change.