Apprenticeship Updates for Schools & MATs

The new apprenticeship government funding rules in August 2026 brought a new wave of apprenticeship funding updates that matter directly to multi academy trusts. As levy employers, MATs sit at the heart of the government’s plan to grow the education workforce and strengthen early career pathways. This month’s announcements focus on flexibility, better value for levy spend, and stronger incentives to bring new talent into schools.

What changed for levy paying MATs

The biggest shift is the uplift to several funding bands linked to education and support roles. Standards such as teaching assistant, early years educator, digital support technician and school business professional now have higher maximum funding. The aim is to help training providers cover rising delivery costs so MATs can access high quality programmes without topping up from their own budgets.

Another welcome update is the improvement to levy transfer rules. MATs can now transfer a larger share of unspent levy to partner schools, feeder primaries or local employers. This is especially helpful for trusts that want to strengthen local talent pipelines or support community based employment initiatives.

The government has also confirmed that the digital apprenticeship service will receive new features later in the year. MATs will see clearer levy forecasting tools, simpler apprentice onboarding and better visibility of provider performance.

Government initiatives to boost apprenticeship employment

Alongside the funding changes, August brought a renewed push to encourage more organisations to employ apprentices.

• Smaller schools (not MATS) co-investment reductions make it cheaper for small employers to take on apprentices. This helps MATs working with local partners on community employment projects.

• Flexi job apprenticeships continue to expand, giving apprentices the chance to work across multiple settings. This model is increasingly useful for trusts with varied school environments or specialist roles.

• Priority sector incentives remain in place, including bonuses for hiring young apprentices and those new to the workforce. These incentives support MATs looking to grow early career talent. Employers continue to receive financial support £2000 for taking on apprentices aged 16 to 21.

• Careers and skills hubs are receiving additional investment, helping schools connect learners with apprenticeship pathways and local employers.

• Levy funding (transfers) can be shared with schools and trusts for unspent levy to other organisations. This helps trusts support feeder schools, local charities and regional employers to create apprenticeship opportunities.

What this means for multi academy trusts?

For MATs, the message is clear. The government wants levy paying employers to feel confident using apprenticeships to build long term workforce strength. Higher funding bands reduce financial pressure, improved levy transfer rules create more flexibility and national initiatives make it easier to bring new people into education roles.

The updates will not transform the system overnight, but they do make apprenticeships more practical, more affordable and more aligned with the needs of schools.