Overview
- New rules effective 1 January 2026 limit public funding for leadership apprenticeships to ages 16–21 and to care leavers under 25, requiring employers to pay for apprentices aged 22 and over.
- Asda says current Apprenticeship Levy rules caused £11.7 million of its funds to expire last year under the 24‑month use‑it‑or‑lose‑it requirement, prompting a call for levy reform.
- The company reports £2.7 million invested in apprenticeship training in 2025 and an expansion to 85 programmes, with more than half of completers since 2024 gaining promotions.
- Asda notes £1.15 million in levy transfers supported 165 apprentices across 80 small and medium‑sized businesses in London, Leicester, West Yorkshire and Manchester.
- Ministers and the DWP have signalled wider apprenticeship reforms, which retailers warn could further constrain leadership training opportunities.