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The chancellor has announced a wider apprenticeship service for England as he argues that helping young people into work should take priority over benefit payments.
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Chancellor John Healey told Labour’s annual conference in Liverpool that cutting welfare spending was “more than an economic must – it’s a moral duty”. He said a first job with training and wages was better for a young person than a benefit payment. [1]
Healey announced that the Local Apprenticeships Service, previously planned as a limited pilot, would be available to any mayor in England who wants it. The Treasury says local teams will begin matching young people with employers from March 2027, including small businesses that have not previously taken on a trainee. It says an extra £100m for the scheme will come from Department for Work and Pensions savings. Healey predicted it would create thousands more apprenticeships. [1]
The proposal comes as about one in eight people aged 16 to 24 in the UK are outside education, employment or training. Conservative shadow chancellor Andrew Griffith disputed Labour’s willingness to cut welfare spending. [1]
The service is due to begin its wider rollout in March 2027; mayors will be able to choose whether to take part. [1]
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