Tim Baum-Dixon: Labour’s cuts to Level 7 apprenticeships undermine growth, opportunity and social mobility

Tim Baum-Dixon: Labour’s cuts to Level 7 apprenticeships undermine growth, opportunity and social mobility

Tim Baum-Dixon is Conservative Councillor for Anston and Woodsetts on Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council and a member of the South Yorkshire Police and Crime Panel. He is a Director at Botham Accounting. Labour’s decision to restrict public funding for Level 7 apprenticeships to those aged 21 and under is a direct attack on social mobility, skills development and business growth. It is also a clear example of policy incoherence: a government…

Higher-level apprenticeship funding to be capped to under 22’s

On 27th May 2025, the government announced that from January 2026, higher-level apprenticeship funding to be capped to under 22’s, so only those aged between 16-21 will be able to qualify for level 7 apprenticeships, which are equivalent to a master’s degree. When these changes take effect an employer will have to pay the full training costs for their employees over the age of 22 who are undertaking training at this level.  These measures are ba…

Wrexham MP releases report on barriers to social mobility

Wrexham’s Member of Parliament has released a new report focusing on the barriers to social mobility. “Where We Are: A Report on the Social Mobility Landscape,” follows six months of research and consultation with charities, organisations, and individuals with lived experience. The report identifies three key barriers to social mobility across the UK: Access and […]