Overview
The government has recently introduced foundation apprenticeships to open up more training opportunities for young people, providing a route into critical sectors while they earn. Their introduction seeks to reverse a trend of declining recruitment onto level 2 apprenticeships.
Our report considers the need for foundation apprenticeships, and the issues that the government must address to ensure they succeed for young people and employers. We draw on data analysis, insights from employers, education providers and awarding organisations, and a review of literature.
Our evidence informs a series of recommendations designed to ensure foundation apprenticeships can become a viable pathway into engineering and technology careers for young people.
Pathways to success: shaping foundation apprenticeships in engineering and technology
Published
September 2025
Who this is for
- Employers
- Policymakers
- MPs
- PEIs
- Researchers
Key findings
Making foundation apprenticeships work well is likely to take concerted effort by the government, employers and wider stakeholders.
Our report sets out 7 criteria for the government to consider:
- are the objectives for foundation apprenticeships clear, and do they complement other policies?
- are there sectors with current or potential demand for level 2 foundation apprentices?
- do employers buy in to the idea that foundation apprenticeships are worthwhile?
- are small and medium-sized employers starting to offer foundation apprenticeships?
- are standards defined in a way that encourages high-quality foundation apprenticeships?
- are foundation apprenticeships supporting young people from a range of backgrounds to succeed?
- are foundation apprenticeships financially viable for providers?
Our analysis also demonstrates some of the challenges in pre-existing level 2 apprenticeships:
- there were no digital level 2 apprenticeship starts in 2023/24 compared with nearly 4,000 in 2018/19
- manufacturing level 2 apprenticeship starts have fallen by 80% in just 5 years, going from 11,670 in 2018/19 to 2,330 in 2023/24
- other sub-sectors like construction, building and planning, and engineering, have seen smaller proportionate declines
- in 2023/24, 11% of those starting a level 2 engineering and manufacturing apprenticeship were female
- of those starting a level 2 construction, planning and built environment apprenticeship in 2023/24, just 3% were female
- in the same year, 10% of level 2 engineering and technology-related apprenticeship starts were by UK ethnic minorities (excluding white minorities)
We welcome the development of foundation apprenticeships and their aim of enabling more young people to access training in key sectors, including construction, and engineering and manufacturing.
However, we urge the government to be open to refining this new offer – to ensure they work for employers and young people alike. We hope our new report will help policymakers ensure the rollout of foundation apprenticeships is successful in addressing skills shortages across England.
— Beatrice Barleon, Head of Policy and Public Affairs, EngineeringUK
