This article reflects an evolving situation and will be updated as and when we have more information to share.
What has changed?
The government has recently announced changes to Functional Skills requirements for apprentices who started their apprenticeship aged 19 or older. You can read more about the rationale for this change in the government article here. The official apprenticeship policy update is below.
Policy update: "Only apprentices who began their apprenticeship training when aged 16-18 will continue to be subject to the mandatory requirement to study towards and achieve English and maths. Apprentices who began their apprenticeship training when aged 19+ will no longer be subject to the mandatory requirement to study towards and achieve English and maths. However, for apprentices aged 19+, the apprentice or their employer can still choose for the apprentice to study towards an English and maths qualification. We will continue to fund those apprentices that wish to study towards an English and maths qualification. The above policy change will be effective from 11 February 2025 and will apply to new starts and existing learners on-programme."
While it is no longer mandatory for apprentices who began their apprenticeship training when aged 19 or over to study and achieve English and maths qualifications, we at Multiverse remain committed to supporting your development and ensuring full compliance with funding regulations throughout this transition.
How do these changes affect me as a Multiverse apprentice?
We're currently working through the operational implications of these changes and determining the best way to support our apprentices. This includes establishing a clear process for apprentices and employers who wish to opt out of on-programme Functional Skills support.
What should I do now?
These changes apply to apprentices who were 19 or older when they started their apprenticeship. If you were under 19 when you started, these changes do not affect you, and you should continue with your Functional Skills journey as planned.
For apprentices aged 19+ on their apprenticeship start date:
If you've already provided acceptable maths and English evidence or achieved the qualifications: No further action is needed.
If you haven't yet provided acceptable maths and English evidence or achieved the qualifications:
Want to continue to achieve maths and English qualifications? Multiverse will continue to support you if you would like to continue to work towards these.
Want to opt out of obtaining maths and English qualifications? The option to opt out will be available soon, and you'll be able to indicate your preference. Important: Opting out will require your employer's agreement and an updated training plan signed. You can expect to receive this w/c 21st March and should sign this before the April deadline.
What happens next?
If you were over 19 at the start of your apprenticeship, we will contact you shortly with further information about the opt-out process, including how to express your preference regarding obtaining functional skills qualifications. We appreciate your patience as we work through these changes. We're dedicated to supporting you in making the best decision for your apprenticeship journey and will provide regular updates as we have them.