Morning, Tuesday, 21st October 2025
Online
This conference will examine the future direction of degree apprenticeships in England, and implications of recent government reforms bringing in new approaches to funding, oversight, and participation.
Delegates will assess the evolving role of degree apprenticeships in addressing skills gaps and enabling more accessible routes into high-value careers, with recent developments indicating a shift toward new priorities for investment, greater flexibility in training, and changes to eligibility for higher-level apprenticeships.
Reform, funding, investment & employer impact
It will be an opportunity for stakeholders and policymakers to assess the potential long-term implications of changes to Level 7 apprenticeships from January 2026 - which will see support withdrawn for most adults aged over 22, apart from care leavers and those with an EHCP - and the introduction of the Growth and Skills Levy. Alongside ambitions for the levy to enable greater flexibility and employer choice, discussion is also expected on priorities for transparency in implementation and on addressing uncertainty around scope and timescales.
Attendees will also examine key considerations for the role of Skills England in coordinating degree apprenticeship policy, supporting employer partnerships, and guiding system-wide delivery. Sessions will assess implications and the way forward following the 2025 Spending Review, which set out increased investment in technical education and committed to simplifying apprenticeship funding structures as part of broader reform plans. Areas for discussion include long-term workforce planning, the effect on employer engagement and investment behaviour, and mechanisms to ensure accountability and value for public and private funding.
Improving design, provision & outcomes
Those attending will look at best practice for universities in embedding sustainable, inclusive and high-quality degree apprenticeships into their wider strategies and academic frameworks, including approaches to improving programme design, teaching methods, and student support services.
Strategies for strengthening collaboration across HE, FE, training providers, and employers will be discussed, as well as improving delivery efficiency and learner outcomes - including latest thinking on innovative co-design, progress monitoring frameworks, and quality assurance processes that can respond dynamically to labour market shifts and learner needs.
Lifelong learning innovation, flexibility & relevance
Discussion will include modular and foundation-level apprenticeship pilots, and strategies to widen participation and provide more flexible progression routes. Delegates will also examine the role of digital and blended learning approaches in enhancing accessibility whilst maintaining academic rigour, as well as practical considerations in aligning academic and workplace learning. Further areas for discussion include addressing issues with employer engagement and the impact on SMEs.
The place of degree apprenticeships in lifelong learning and workforce development will be considered, as well as options for ensuring continued relevance and long-term benefits for learners, providers and employers. The design of flexible delivery models that accommodate working learners, integration of micro-credentials and stackable qualifications, and policy levers to encourage lifelong engagement with degree apprenticeships will be explored.
Wider economic ambitions
A further focus is expected on the position of degree apprenticeships in wider economic strategy, and what it could mean for sector growth, productivity, and place-based development, in the context of the Government’s Industrial Strategy. Areas for discussion include priorities for apprenticeship policy going forward, approaches for refining the alignment of provision with sector and regional needs, and options for simplifying delivery, assessment, and funding - as well as how degree apprenticeships can continue to effectively support entry to professional careers.
Additional areas for discussion
- data and evaluation requirements: use of evidence and monitoring to improve access, delivery and outcomes - opportunities for publishing more granular socioeconomic data to inform policy
- SME participation: addressing administrative and financial barriers - opportunities to use levy flexibilities and targeted support to encourage engagement from smaller employers
- access and diversity: widening participation among underrepresented, disabled or disadvantaged groups - potential impact of policy changes on gender, social mobility and regional equity
All delegates will be able to contribute to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices, and more widely. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates. As well as key stakeholders, those due to attend include officials from DHSC; DBT; and DWP.
