The government is considering plans to increase the cost of apprenticeship training for workers over 25 by 25% compared to younger apprentices, according to reporting by The Guardian. The move forms part of a broader overhaul of England's apprenticeship funding scheme.
Ministers aim to use the price differential to encourage employers to hire and train younger workers, framing the proposal as a response to what the government describes as a youth jobs crisis. The plans would modify the existing apprenticeship funding structure that Labour introduced.
The Guardian reports the scheme would apply to England and would affect how much employers must contribute when training older workers versus youth apprentices. No details on implementation timeline, exemptions or affected sectors were provided in the available reporting.
The proposal raises questions about how employers might respond to higher training costs for older workers. It also touches on broader employment policy debates about generational access to apprenticeship opportunities and vocational training funding.
The government has not yet made a formal announcement or released full policy details.