Travis Perkins Welcomes Apprenticeship Reform

Builder’s merchant Travis Perkins has welcomed the announcement that there will be an expansion to the government’s apprenticeship scheme, which is expected to benefit 50,000 young people. 

Andy Rayner, Director of Skills and Apprenticeships from Travis Perkins Plc says:

"For construction, this is significant. Our industry needs more people coming through and these measures will make it easier for both learners and employers to commit to apprenticeship routes.

At Travis Perkins we see every day how high-quality training helps young people thrive. This investment will help bring more talent into the sector and give thousands a real opportunity to build a future in the trades.”

More details on the apprenticeship reforms can be found in the official government press release; the main points are summarised below:

50,000 more young people to benefit from apprenticeships as Government unveils new skills reforms to get Britain working

• Major £725 million investment to deliver more apprenticeships for young people and help match skills training with local job opportunities.
  
  
• Young people to benefit from increased access to training with full cost of apprenticeships at SME’s covered by Government.
  
  
• New wave of foundation apprenticeships in sectors such as retail and hospitality sectors to get young people into work.
  
  
• Backing thousands more apprenticeship starts for young people through a £140 million partnership with local leaders.
  
  
• 50,000 young people across the country will be better equipped for jobs of the future through a major investment to create more apprenticeships and training courses.

The £725 million package of reforms to the apprenticeship system will help to tackle youth unemployment and drive economic growth, with thousands more young people expected to benefit over the next three years.

The latest funding includes a £140 million for a pilot where Mayors will be able to connect young people - especially those not in education, employment or training (NEET) with thousands of apprenticeship opportunities at local employers.

By partnering with regional leaders who best understand their local economies, these pilots will ensure young people can access training that meets the needs of employers in their area.

As part of the package, the government will also cover the full cost of apprenticeships for eligible young people under 25 at small and medium-sized businesses.

Removing the 5% co-investment rate for SME’s means that the training costs for all eligible under 25 apprentices are fully funded opening up thousands of opportunities for young people. This will make it easier for young people to find opportunities and remove the burden from businesses, making it easier for them to take on young talent.

Businesses will also benefit from a major boost in flexibility as new short courses in cutting-edge areas including AI, engineering and digital skills will begin rolling out from April 2026.

This includes working closely with the defence sector to develop a new suite of flexible, work-based training options to help employers upskill their existing workforce in the critical skills needed for future success.

Today’s announcement comes alongside plans to open up new waves of foundation apprenticeships in sectors such as hospitality and retail.

The reforms will simplify and modernise the apprenticeship system, making it more efficient and responsive to the needs of employers and learners. From April 2026, short courses will be introduced to provide more flexible training options and a new Level 4 apprenticeship in AI will also be introduced, supporting employers to develop the skills of their workforce.

The reforms to the Growth and Skills Levy build on the Prime Minister’s ambition for two-thirds of young people to participate in higher level learners – academic, technical or apprenticeships - helping more young people gain the skills they need to start their careers.

Source : Travis Perkins, Gov.uk

Image : Pexels / nicholas-lim / 3792575

For all the very latest news and intelligence on the UK's largest home improvement and garden retailers, sign up for the Insight DIY weekly newsletter.