There’s no doubt that apprenticeships are the cornerstone of professional development within the accountancy sector, and the stats speak for themselves.

Since the apprenticeship levy was introduced back in 2017, over 40,000 people have applied to study accountancy or taxation, demonstrating the popularity of funded training routes. However, despite the clear demand, this funding is now at risk.

Last September, the government announced changes to the apprenticeship system, including limiting support for Level 7 courses, which are the equivalent of a master’s degree.

Ministers want to replace the apprenticeship levy with a growth and skills levy, which would focus on providing broader, shorter apprenticeship courses in other sectors.