Government Overhaul Apprenticeship System to Boost Green Skills for the Future

The UK government announced a major shake-up of the apprenticeship system, aiming to better prepare young people for careers in fast-growing green industries.

The plan, revealed by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, introduced a new Growth and Skills Levy to replace the existing apprenticeship levy. This change was designed to support more targeted training opportunities—especially in industries key to the green transition, like renewable energy, electric vehicles, and sustainable construction.

A big part of the overhaul included the launch of foundation apprenticeships, which offer students new ways to get hands-on experience and qualifications in high-demand areas. Funding for these training programmes is based on advice from Skills England, which identified the sectors most in need of skilled workers.

Skills England’s first report in September 2024 showed that around 40% of UK workers would be directly or indirectly involved in helping the country reach its net-zero climate targets. It also warned that one in five jobs in the UK would be affected by the shift to a greener economy—making reskilling and upskilling more important than ever.

Despite the growing demand, green skills were in short supply. Between 2023 and 2024, demand for workers with green expertise grew by 46%, but the number of people qualified to fill those roles only rose by 5.3%. In fact, only 7% of UK workers received green skills training at work, even though 21% wanted it.

Experts believed the green transition could create between 135,000 and 725,000 new jobs by 2030. But without the right training in place, there is concern that many of these opportunities could go unfilled.

By overhauling the apprenticeship system, the government aims to close that gap—helping students and young jobseekers develop the skills needed to succeed in the growing green economy.