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Reform UK backs 30% apprenticeship wage rebate for firms

The party estimates its plan would cost about £1.48 billion to nearly £2 billion over five years, aiming for 600,000 apprenticeship starts per year by 2034.

Reported · Written up by our desk · North America

Reform UK is proposing an “apprenticeship wage credit” that would pay for part of apprentices’ wages through taxpayers, with Suella Braverman saying a Reform government would offer small and medium-sized businesses a 30% rebate on wages for apprentices aged 16 to 18. BBC Business reports the policy is designed to deliver a “skills revolution” and steer more young people toward technical and vocational routes.

The plan also includes a £2,000 tax-free retention bonus for apprentices, intended to be paid to workers who stay with their training employer for at least two years after completing their apprenticeship, Braverman said. She also advised students about their GCSE results to consider learning a trade instead of pursuing university.

Reform UK said it wants to reach 600,000 apprenticeship starts per year by the end of the next Parliament, likely in 2034, and that the proposal would be funded by banning foreign students from accessing taxpayer-funded loans and stopping what it calls “Mickey Mouse degrees.” According to BBC Business, the overall policy is expected to cost between £1.48 billion and almost £2 billion over five years.

Braverman argued that there are “excessive” numbers of graduates whose qualifications do not match the skills needed, and she said apprenticeships generally come with lower wages but provide on-the-job training and practical experience. The BBC Business account says she indicated she does not expect universities to close, instead suggesting the change would redirect demand toward vocational training.

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