With funding for Level 7 apprenticeships soon to be only for those aged 16 to 21, the has led an open letter to government asking them to raise the age of eligibility for funding to 25 years old for built environment professionals.
RIBA writes:
Signed by more than 70 organisations, businesses and academic institutions across the built environment, the letter calls on the Government to raise the eligibility age for Level 7 apprenticeship funding for built environment professionals to 25.
Led by RIBA, the letter highlights the cross-sector support to securing funding for Level 7 apprenticeships in the built environment.
Why are we calling for this change?
From January 2026, government funding for Level 7 apprenticeships will be restricted to those aged 16 to 21 or those already enrolled in an apprenticeship programme. For many this will mean they are unable to access funding.
From delivering 1.5million homes to creating the next generation of new towns and working towards net zero, the built environment is vital to achieving the government’s ambitions, but for this to be a success, we need a pipeline of talent.
Level 7 apprenticeships are a flexible and accessible pathway to becoming a professional within the built environment. Allowing a balance of work and study, Level 7 apprenticeships provide those with additional responsibilities such as family or caring commitments an opportunity to enter professions with the skills that employers need, without the burden of debt.
Young people are central to building a resilient and productive labour market. The Prime Minister recently announced that the country should be aiming for two thirds of young people to get higher-level skills, either through university, further education, or a ‘gold standard’ apprenticeship by age 25 is welcome. Extending the eligibility age for Level 7 apprenticeship funding to 25 years old aligns with these ambitions.
Get involved
Get behind our campaign by sharing this page on your social channels with the hashtag #BuiltEnvironmentApprenticeships and tagging the Department for Work and Pensions.
Find out more about how the RIBA has been championing Level 7 apprenticeships to date.
