IWFM has signed a joint letter to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, urging him to rethink the cut off to funding for Level 7 apprentices over the age of 21, and allow funding for learners up to 25 years old – including those working in facilities management.
The Institute is one of 70 industry leaders – including RIBA, the BPF, RICS and the FMB –to sign the letter supporting a change to the government’s recent policy shift.
The letter highlights the inconsistency in the government’s current position, whereby the Prime Minister on the one hand announces his aim for two-thirds of young people to get higher-level skills by age 25 – either through university, further education, or a ‘gold standard’ apprenticeship – while removing apprenticeship funding for this age group on the other.
It further argues that a ‘pipeline of highly trained professionals’ in our sector is crucial if the country is to deliver on this government’s plans for growth, and for the management of the built environment in the push toward net zero.
Without access to the Growth and Skills Levy that so many businesses rely on to employ Level 7 apprentices in this age group, access to new talent will be impacted, as will the vital gains in social mobility made possible by the apprenticeship pathway.
The letter concludes, ‘to drive growth through creating and developing high-quality, well designed buildings and places across the country, a dynamic and highly-skilled workforce is essential. Raising the age of eligibility for Level 7 apprenticeship funding to 25 years old for built environment professionals is one key mechanism to help achieve this.’
