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Written question asked by Lee Anderson (Reform UK) on Monday, 10 November 2025, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 12 November 2025. It was answered by Andrew Western (Labour) on Wednesday, 19 November 2025 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.


School Leaving: Apprentices

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to ensure the adequate availability of apprenticeships for people leaving (a) secondary school and (b) college.

Answer

We have introduced new foundation apprenticeships to give young people a route into careers in critical sectors of the economy, enabling them to earn a wage while developing vital skills.

To support employers to offer apprenticeships, the government provides £1,000 payments to employers when they take on apprentices aged under 19, or 19 to 24-year-old apprentices who have an education, health and care plan or have been, or are, in care.

Government also pays employers up to £2,000 for eligible foundation apprenticeships to contribute to the extra costs of supporting someone at the beginning of their career.

In addition, employers benefit from not being required to pay anything towards employees’ National Insurance for all apprentices aged up to age 25, when the employee’s wage is below £50,270 a year.


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
88806
Session
2024-26
Transferred
Yes
Subjects
Apprentices School leaving
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk