Employers across the West Midlands and Shropshire are urging the Government to protect funding for management apprenticeships, amid growing concern that key programmes could be cut as part of upcoming reforms to the Growth and Skills Levy.
The Chartered Management Institute (CMI) has launched a national petition calling on ministers to safeguard management training, following fears that funding for Level 3–6 management apprenticeships may be reduced in favour of shorter technical courses—after Level 7 management apprenticeships were scrapped earlier this year.
Rob Colbourne OBE, CEO of West Midlands training provider Performance Through People (PTP), described the prospect of cuts as “very worrying”. Manufacturers, including PP Control & Automation, have also stressed the critical role management apprenticeships play in building skilled, resilient workforces.
Concerns Over Impacts on Young People and Productivity
CMI has warned that reducing access to management training could make it harder to support young people entering the workforce. With 82% of UK managers considered “accidental managers”—promoted without formal training—the organisation says capable supervisors are essential for mentoring and developing young staff.
A Department for Work and Pensions spokesperson said:
“We are committed to creating an apprenticeships system that addresses the nation’s skills challenges and are simplifying it to give businesses the flexibility to develop the skills they need… We will consider feedback before making any decisions about changes to funding apprenticeship standards.”
The Government has pledged £725 million towards apprenticeship reforms, with Chancellor Rachel Reeves announcing plans in the Autumn Budget to “streamline” apprenticeship standards.
CMI, however, warns essential leadership skills must not be lost:
“We must not ‘streamline’ away the leadership skills that drive productivity and support the next generation of workers.”
PTP: “Don’t break something that isn’t broken”
Rob Colbourne says talk of “prioritisation” or “streamlining” feels, in practice, more like potential rationing:
“For more than a decade, the sector has been strongly encouraged to invest in Level 3 to 5 programmes. Employers are fatigued by constant reform—it often damages businesses rather than helping them. We urge the Government not to break something that isn’t broken.”
PTP currently supports over 200 learners completing management qualifications, many at Level 5. Feedback, Colbourne says, is consistently positive:
“These programmes strengthen leadership, improve strategic capability and deliver real value to junior staff who benefit from being mentored by trained managers.”
He warns that reducing access to management apprenticeships would create new challenges for employers:
“Leadership and management apprenticeships do not compete with opportunities for young people; they complement them. Businesses will not confidently recruit young talent if they cannot rely on supervisors, team leaders and line managers to support them.”
Colbourne also referenced recent reassurances reported by FE Week that no decisions have yet been made:
“My 40 years in the sector tells me that ‘no decision yet’ usually means change is coming. It’s very worrying for all.”
Call to Action
PTP is encouraging employers and stakeholders to support the CMI campaign and ensure management apprenticeships remain available to businesses of all sizes—particularly SMEs that rely on structured training to develop future leaders.