18 March 2026
The UK Government has unveiled significant reforms to apprenticeships and youth employment, with new investment and incentives aimed at supporting businesses and helping more young people into work.
Announced on 16 March, the expansion of the Youth Guarantee will see an additional £900 million investment over the next three years, extending the Jobs Guarantee scheme to include 22–24-year-olds. The initiative will also introduce hiring incentives for employers recruiting young people on Universal Credit who are at risk of long-term unemployment.
Alongside this, Government is reforming the Growth and Skills Levy to place greater emphasis on supporting younger apprentices. Building on previous commitments, the latest measures include:
- Additional incentives for non-levy paying employers recruiting apprentices aged 16–24
- The introduction of new apprenticeship units
- Streamlining of the apprenticeship system to ensure funding is targeted where it is most needed
These changes form part of a wider £1 billion youth employment drive, designed to help unlock up to 200,000 new jobs and apprenticeships and deliver the most significant transformation of the apprenticeship system in over a decade.
British Marine members are encouraged to review how these updates could benefit their business, particularly if considering recruiting apprentices or expanding their workforce.