Breaking News: Level 7 Funding Reduced to those Under 22

The government are refocusing funding away from Level 7 (masters-level) apprenticeships from January 2026, while maintaining support for those aged 16-21 and existing apprentices.

Big news for the #accountancy and #tax profession!

📚 Out of 23,860 level 7 starters, 2% are under-19s, while 34% are aged 19 to 24.
➡️ It means very few level 7 apprenticeships will remain levy funded from January.

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Potential impact:
💸 Smaller firms and public sector employers, such as NHS trusts, may struggle to cover the costs of training without government support, potentially leading to fewer L7 apprenticeship opportunities.

👥 Many trainees, particularly those from underrepresented or lower-income backgrounds, rely on funded apprenticeships to pursue professional qualifications. Removing funding may limit access and hinder diversity within the profession. OR the changes could enhance social mobility by diverting funding away from those with degrees already.

👵 Bad news for career changers and even those who have taken a gap year before university - they will now need to have their programmes commercially funded if they want to become a L7 professional.

What do you think about the announcement?

For an interesting read, check out the SMF think tank report by Tom Richmond: https://www.smf.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/A-level-of-uncertainty-Jan-2025.pdf