Only 160 apprenticeship starts in eight months on Labour’s flagship scheme
Summary
Labour’s apprenticeship scheme has enrolled only 160 young people in its first eight months, far below its goal of 30,000 starts by the end of the current parliament. A report by the Fabian Society warns that apprenticeship programs for young people are fragmented and need reform to improve youth employment in the UK.Key Facts
- Labour’s “foundation apprenticeship” scheme had only 160 starts from August 2025 to April 2026.
- The government aims to reach 30,000 apprenticeship starts by the end of the parliament.
- Nearly 1 million young people aged 16-24 are not in work, education, or training, known as Neet.
- About 308,000 people started apprenticeships of any kind this academic year, a 9% increase from last year.
- Over half of apprentices are over 25 years old; only about 20% are under 19.
- Apprenticeships for people under 25 are 40% lower than they were ten years ago.
- Employers have low awareness of newer technical qualifications like T-levels and V-levels.
- The report suggests a £311 million per year regional apprenticeship fund and redesigning apprenticeships to reduce costs for employers.
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