Medr/2026/47: Apprenticeship Funding Model: Summary of consultation outcome

Summary

Medr’s Strategic Plan sets out an aim to ‘create a flexible and joined-up tertiary system where everyone can acquire the skills and knowledge they need for a changing economy and society’. We have committed to design future apprenticeship provision to respond to the Welsh Government’s skills priorities and to meet the needs of learners, employers and the economy. Apprenticeships are a key lever for driving productivity and helping to grow a skilled and diverse workforce.

The new apprenticeship programme will start on 1 August 2027 and will be more responsive and flexible to meet our changing economy.

In May 2026 we undertook a consultation on a proposed funding model for the new apprenticeship programme leading to regulated qualifications at levels 2-5, which included engagement with tertiary education providers, industry bodies, employers and other stakeholders.

We asked for views on:

• The high-level principles of the new funding model
• Benefits of the new funding model
• Unintended consequences of implementing the new funding model
• Additional apprenticeship costs

Hearing from stakeholders has been key to help Medr shape the new funding model and fully consider the unintended consequences identified.

This document provides a summary of key themes from the responses to the consultation questions and how we have decided to respond in finalising the new funding model.

Annex A provides a more detailed analysis of the consultation feedback.