This Library Note provides statistical information on apprenticeships, based on the most recent figures published by the Skills Funding Agency (SFA). It then focusses on four key areas of recent government policy development in relation to apprenticeships: the announcement of a government target of three million new apprenticeships by the end of March 2020; the development of new apprenticeship standards
Availability and Quality of Apprenticeships, and the Spread of Apprenticeships across the Labour Market (523KB PDF)
The Government has made clear its commitment to increasing the quality and number of apprenticeships over this Parliament; in principle, its commitment has been welcomed by politicians and stakeholders alike. However, concern has been expressed by some regarding a potential risk of too much emphasis being placed on targets.
On 27 May 2015, the Prime Minister, David Cameron, commented that, “the first priority of the Queen’s Speech is to help working people, and we are clear about what that means—more jobs, more apprenticeships […]. The last Parliament saw more than 2.2 million new apprenticeships start, and the Queen’s Speech will help to create 3 million more”. With a pledge to create three million new apprenticeships by the end of March 2020, numerous questions have been raised of the Government which include:
Availability and Quality of Apprenticeships, and the Spread of Apprenticeships across the Labour Market (523KB PDF)
The Sovereign Grant Bill is a government bill which would amend how the sovereign grant is set. This is a grant paid to the King to support the work of the sovereign. The bill would enable the size of the sovereign grant to be reduced following the completion of a 10-year works project on Buckingham Palace. The bill received cross-party support and was not amended in the House of Commons.
The Commercial Payments Bill [HL] seeks to tackle late payments to small businesses. It would impose minimum payment periods for invoices, prohibit the use of retentions in construction contracts and provide the small business commissioner with greater powers. The bill received an unopposed second reading in the House of Lords on 9 June 2026. 30 government amendments were made to the bill at committee stage.
![Commercial Payments Bill [HL]: Progress in the Lords](https://lordslibrary-parliament.studio24.dev/content/uploads/sites/2/2020/01/Business-VIGs-568x426.jpg)
The Creative Education Access Bill [HL] would introduce a minimum entitlement to creative and cultural education for pupils at state-funded schools in England. The bill would establish a minimum number of hours of creative learning per week and would require schools to take reasonable steps to develop partnerships with the creative sector.
![Creative Education Access Bill [HL]: HL Bill 17 of 2026–27](https://lordslibrary-parliament.studio24.dev/content/uploads/sites/2/2020/09/Culture-media-and-sport-568x426.png)