Between 1 January and 30 June 2026, officials from the Department for Business Trade (DBT) and/or Companies House met the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) on three occasions to discuss the Companies House accounts reforms. One meeting took place with Companies House before the Government announced its updated accounts reforms position on 9 June 2026. Following the announcement, a further meeting was held with Companies House, and another meeting with both Companies House and DBT officials.

Prior to this period, officials engaged with several stakeholder groups, including the FSB, to gather views on the accounts reforms. These views informed the Government’s updated position.

In July 2025, the Companies House accounts reforms were put under review to ensure that they struck the right balance between tackling economic crime and avoiding undue business burden. During this review, Government officials consulted Business Representative Organisations, accountancy bodies and transparency groups.

This included the Federation of Small Businesses, Institute of Directors, British Chambers of Commerce, Startup Coalition, UK Private Capital, the Bank of England, the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, Transparency International UK and the Business Information Providers Association.

The Government announced its updated position on 9 June 2026.

Apprenticeships are a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.

This Government is investing in young people’s futures and reversing the sharp decline in apprenticeship starts amongst young people – which have fallen by 40% over the last decade.

As communicated in the Written Statement of 2 June 2025, the government no longer funds level 7 apprenticeships, equivalent to master’s degree level, except for young apprentices under the age of 22, and those under 25 who are care leavers or have an Education, Health and Care Plan. This will create more opportunities for those entering the labour market and help apprenticeships opportunities to be rebalanced towards young people.

Employers and apprenticeship training providers were also notified of the changes to Level 7 apprenticeship funding in June 2025.

This decision was informed by a range of evidence, including Skills England’s analysis of official apprenticeship statistics and engagement with a wide range of stakeholders. Skills England’s evidence suggested there was unlikely to be a significant or unavoidable fall in the supply of these skills in the long term, post-defunding. Skills England has published a report on their findings: Skills England: evidence on defunding of level 7 apprenticeships - GOV.UK

We are encouraging more employers to invest in upskilling their staff aged over 22 to level 7 where it delivers a benefit to the business and the individual. It will be for employers to determine the most appropriate training. There are alternative training options available to employers at level 7 including non-apprenticeship routes. The department has published guidance on privately funded apprenticeships, which will enable employers to privately fund level 7 apprenticeships for staff aged over 22: Privately funded apprenticeships: rules and guidance - GOV.UK(opens in a new tab).

The Department for Health and Social Care has confirmed that it will fund the ongoing provision of level 7 apprenticeships in five professions including Specialist Community Public Health Nurse, District Nurse and Advanced Clinical Practitioner.

Apprenticeship starts for the Level 7 Accountancy or Taxation Professional standard are published in the Apprenticeships Accredited Official Statistics publication.

Apprenticeships are a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.

This Government is investing in young people’s futures and reversing the sharp decline in apprenticeship starts amongst young people – which have fallen by 40% over the last decade.

As communicated in the Written Statement of 2 June 2025, the government no longer funds level 7 apprenticeships, equivalent to master’s degree level, except for young apprentices under the age of 22, and those under 25 who are care leavers or have an Education, Health and Care Plan. This will create more opportunities for those entering the labour market and help apprenticeships opportunities to be rebalanced towards young people.

Employers and apprenticeship training providers were also notified of the changes to Level 7 apprenticeship funding in June 2025.

This decision was informed by a range of evidence, including Skills England’s analysis of official apprenticeship statistics and engagement with a wide range of stakeholders. Skills England’s evidence suggested there was unlikely to be a significant or unavoidable fall in the supply of these skills in the long term, post-defunding. Skills England has published a report on their findings: Skills England: evidence on defunding of level 7 apprenticeships - GOV.UK

We are encouraging more employers to invest in upskilling their staff aged over 22 to level 7 where it delivers a benefit to the business and the individual. It will be for employers to determine the most appropriate training. There are alternative training options available to employers at level 7 including non-apprenticeship routes. The department has published guidance on privately funded apprenticeships, which will enable employers to privately fund level 7 apprenticeships for staff aged over 22: Privately funded apprenticeships: rules and guidance - GOV.UK(opens in a new tab).

The Department for Health and Social Care has confirmed that it will fund the ongoing provision of level 7 apprenticeships in five professions including Specialist Community Public Health Nurse, District Nurse and Advanced Clinical Practitioner.

Apprenticeship starts for the Level 7 Accountancy or Taxation Professional standard are published in the Apprenticeships Accredited Official Statistics publication.

Apprenticeships are a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.

This Government is investing in young people’s futures and reversing the sharp decline in apprenticeship starts amongst young people – which have fallen by 40% over the last decade.

As communicated in the Written Statement of 2 June 2025, the government no longer funds level 7 apprenticeships, equivalent to master’s degree level, except for young apprentices under the age of 22, and those under 25 who are care leavers or have an Education, Health and Care Plan. This will create more opportunities for those entering the labour market and help apprenticeships opportunities to be rebalanced towards young people.

Employers and apprenticeship training providers were also notified of the changes to Level 7 apprenticeship funding in June 2025.

This decision was informed by a range of evidence, including Skills England’s analysis of official apprenticeship statistics and engagement with a wide range of stakeholders. Skills England’s evidence suggested there was unlikely to be a significant or unavoidable fall in the supply of these skills in the long term, post-defunding. Skills England has published a report on their findings: Skills England: evidence on defunding of level 7 apprenticeships - GOV.UK

We are encouraging more employers to invest in upskilling their staff aged over 22 to level 7 where it delivers a benefit to the business and the individual. It will be for employers to determine the most appropriate training. There are alternative training options available to employers at level 7 including non-apprenticeship routes. The department has published guidance on privately funded apprenticeships, which will enable employers to privately fund level 7 apprenticeships for staff aged over 22: Privately funded apprenticeships: rules and guidance - GOV.UK(opens in a new tab).

The Department for Health and Social Care has confirmed that it will fund the ongoing provision of level 7 apprenticeships in five professions including Specialist Community Public Health Nurse, District Nurse and Advanced Clinical Practitioner.

Apprenticeship starts for the Level 7 Accountancy or Taxation Professional standard are published in the Apprenticeships Accredited Official Statistics publication.

Apprenticeships are a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.

This Government is investing in young people’s futures and reversing the sharp decline in apprenticeship starts amongst young people – which have fallen by 40% over the last decade.

As communicated in the Written Statement of 2 June 2025, the government no longer funds level 7 apprenticeships, equivalent to master’s degree level, except for young apprentices under the age of 22, and those under 25 who are care leavers or have an Education, Health and Care Plan. This will create more opportunities for those entering the labour market and help apprenticeships opportunities to be rebalanced towards young people.

Employers and apprenticeship training providers were also notified of the changes to Level 7 apprenticeship funding in June 2025.

This decision was informed by a range of evidence, including Skills England’s analysis of official apprenticeship statistics and engagement with a wide range of stakeholders. Skills England’s evidence suggested there was unlikely to be a significant or unavoidable fall in the supply of these skills in the long term, post-defunding. Skills England has published a report on their findings: Skills England: evidence on defunding of level 7 apprenticeships - GOV.UK

We are encouraging more employers to invest in upskilling their staff aged over 22 to level 7 where it delivers a benefit to the business and the individual. It will be for employers to determine the most appropriate training. There are alternative training options available to employers at level 7 including non-apprenticeship routes. The department has published guidance on privately funded apprenticeships, which will enable employers to privately fund level 7 apprenticeships for staff aged over 22: Privately funded apprenticeships: rules and guidance - GOV.UK(opens in a new tab).

The Department for Health and Social Care has confirmed that it will fund the ongoing provision of level 7 apprenticeships in five professions including Specialist Community Public Health Nurse, District Nurse and Advanced Clinical Practitioner.

Apprenticeship starts for the Level 7 Accountancy or Taxation Professional standard are published in the Apprenticeships Accredited Official Statistics publication.

Apprenticeships are a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.

This Government is investing in young people’s futures and reversing the sharp decline in apprenticeship starts amongst young people – which have fallen by 40% over the last decade.

As communicated in the Written Statement of 2 June 2025, the government no longer funds level 7 apprenticeships, equivalent to master’s degree level, except for young apprentices under the age of 22, and those under 25 who are care leavers or have an Education, Health and Care Plan. This will create more opportunities for those entering the labour market and help apprenticeships opportunities to be rebalanced towards young people.

Employers and apprenticeship training providers were also notified of the changes to Level 7 apprenticeship funding in June 2025.

This decision was informed by a range of evidence, including Skills England’s analysis of official apprenticeship statistics and engagement with a wide range of stakeholders. Skills England’s evidence suggested there was unlikely to be a significant or unavoidable fall in the supply of these skills in the long term, post-defunding. Skills England has published a report on their findings: Skills England: evidence on defunding of level 7 apprenticeships - GOV.UK

We are encouraging more employers to invest in upskilling their staff aged over 22 to level 7 where it delivers a benefit to the business and the individual. It will be for employers to determine the most appropriate training. There are alternative training options available to employers at level 7 including non-apprenticeship routes. The department has published guidance on privately funded apprenticeships, which will enable employers to privately fund level 7 apprenticeships for staff aged over 22: Privately funded apprenticeships: rules and guidance - GOV.UK(opens in a new tab).

The Department for Health and Social Care has confirmed that it will fund the ongoing provision of level 7 apprenticeships in five professions including Specialist Community Public Health Nurse, District Nurse and Advanced Clinical Practitioner.

Apprenticeship starts for the Level 7 Accountancy or Taxation Professional standard are published in the Apprenticeships Accredited Official Statistics publication.

Apprenticeships are a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.

This Government is investing in young people’s futures and reversing the sharp decline in apprenticeship starts amongst young people – which have fallen by 40% over the last decade.

As communicated in the Written Statement of 2 June 2025, the government no longer funds level 7 apprenticeships, equivalent to master’s degree level, except for young apprentices under the age of 22, and those under 25 who are care leavers or have an Education, Health and Care Plan. This will create more opportunities for those entering the labour market and help apprenticeships opportunities to be rebalanced towards young people.

Employers and apprenticeship training providers were also notified of the changes to Level 7 apprenticeship funding in June 2025.

This decision was informed by a range of evidence, including Skills England’s analysis of official apprenticeship statistics and engagement with a wide range of stakeholders. Skills England’s evidence suggested there was unlikely to be a significant or unavoidable fall in the supply of these skills in the long term, post-defunding. Skills England has published a report on their findings: Skills England: evidence on defunding of level 7 apprenticeships - GOV.UK

We are encouraging more employers to invest in upskilling their staff aged over 22 to level 7 where it delivers a benefit to the business and the individual. It will be for employers to determine the most appropriate training. There are alternative training options available to employers at level 7 including non-apprenticeship routes. The department has published guidance on privately funded apprenticeships, which will enable employers to privately fund level 7 apprenticeships for staff aged over 22: Privately funded apprenticeships: rules and guidance - GOV.UK(opens in a new tab).

The Department for Health and Social Care has confirmed that it will fund the ongoing provision of level 7 apprenticeships in five professions including Specialist Community Public Health Nurse, District Nurse and Advanced Clinical Practitioner.

Apprenticeship starts for the Level 7 Accountancy or Taxation Professional standard are published in the Apprenticeships Accredited Official Statistics publication.

Apprenticeships are a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.

This Government is investing in young people’s futures and reversing the sharp decline in apprenticeship starts amongst young people – which have fallen by 40% over the last decade.

As communicated in the Written Statement of 2 June 2025, the government no longer funds level 7 apprenticeships, equivalent to master’s degree level, except for young apprentices under the age of 22, and those under 25 who are care leavers or have an Education, Health and Care Plan. This will create more opportunities for those entering the labour market and help apprenticeships opportunities to be rebalanced towards young people.

Employers and apprenticeship training providers were also notified of the changes to Level 7 apprenticeship funding in June 2025.

This decision was informed by a range of evidence, including Skills England’s analysis of official apprenticeship statistics and engagement with a wide range of stakeholders. Skills England’s evidence suggested there was unlikely to be a significant or unavoidable fall in the supply of these skills in the long term, post-defunding. Skills England has published a report on their findings: Skills England: evidence on defunding of level 7 apprenticeships - GOV.UK

We are encouraging more employers to invest in upskilling their staff aged over 22 to level 7 where it delivers a benefit to the business and the individual. It will be for employers to determine the most appropriate training. There are alternative training options available to employers at level 7 including non-apprenticeship routes. The department has published guidance on privately funded apprenticeships, which will enable employers to privately fund level 7 apprenticeships for staff aged over 22: Privately funded apprenticeships: rules and guidance - GOV.UK(opens in a new tab).

The Department for Health and Social Care has confirmed that it will fund the ongoing provision of level 7 apprenticeships in five professions including Specialist Community Public Health Nurse, District Nurse and Advanced Clinical Practitioner.

Apprenticeship starts for the Level 7 Accountancy or Taxation Professional standard are published in the Apprenticeships Accredited Official Statistics publication.

FRS 102 is issued by the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) and the responsibility for any detailed assessment of the impact of changes in FRS 102 rests with the FRC. Impact assessments are available on the FRC’s website: Impact Assessments and Feedback Statements. In relation to recent changes arising from the Periodic Review 2024 the FRC considered the effect of companies potentially moving from small to medium-sized and estimated at the time that a limited number of small entities could move above the small company threshold as a result. Since then, the Government has significantly increased the monetary company size thresholds, and this will reduce the number of entities affected by this interaction.