Bridget Phillipson Celebrates Declining Junior Apprenticeship Numbers
Bridget Phillipson is attempting to spin a worrying decrease in key apprenticeships as a victory for her education policy. She tweeted this morning:
And again, another Labour hat trick. This time on apprenticeships:
🆙 Starts up
🆙 Participation up
🆙 Achievements upThrough our Plan for Change, we’re backing our young people to unlock opportunity and drive growth.https://t.co/9l2W9Xr5EO
— Bridget Phillipson (@bphillipsonMP) July 17, 2025
Guido Verify has examined the claims. A breakdown of the actual number of “starts” shows that the only increase is seen in Level 7 apprenticeships, which are higher level ones – effectively masters degrees. It used to be funded up to the age of 25 – Phillipson herself gutted the programme and removed it for those aged 22 and over from January next year. She said this was “so they can rebalance and they can focus on where they will have the greatest impact.” The numbers of those have jumped in the latest statistics by about 10,000 from last year – obviously because the funding is soon to be withdrawn…
At the same time Guido Verify analysis shows that Intermediate and Advanced apprenticeship starts – those that Phillipson says are the most important and Labour’s main funding focus – have actually fallen by 4,000 and 1,000 respectively on last year. Guido Verify verdict: outrageous spin…
