Plan to make firms pay more to train older workers than youth apprentices in England

Ministers in England are considering overhauling the apprenticeship funding system to address the youth jobs crisis by charging employers more to train older workers than to train youth apprentices. The plan, reported as being developed by the government and based on a Labour apprenticeship funding scheme, would increase training costs by 25% for employees over 25 to steer businesses toward hiring young people. It aims to reverse a 40% drop in youth apprenticeship starts over the past decade, as part of the government’s response to Alan Milburn’s review. With youth unemployment rising and almost 1 million young people not in education, employment or training, changes tied to the £4bn-a-year growth and skills levy would restrict “co-investment” access for employers, a move expected to be controversial.