The government introduced the apprenticeship levy in 2017 as part of reforms to improve apprenticeship quality and employer engagement. The levy is paid by employers with a pay bill of over £3 million per year. It is paid into a digital account which employers can access as funding to pay for apprenticeships.
Learning and Work Institute was commissioned by the Department for Education to conduct research to explore:
- Levy-paying employers spending decisions;
- How employers and providers account for the prior learning of apprentices.
This qualitative study involved interviews with employers, training providers and apprentices.
The evidence will help to inform potential policy responses, to ensure high quality training for apprentices and value for money in the system
30 Medi 2026
From appetite to opportunity
This report for The St Martin’s Group draws on a survey of more than 1,000 HR decision makers to examine employers’ plans to recruit young people, the routes they expect to use, the barriers they face, and the support they need.
22 Medi 2026
Building an AI-ready workforce: Creating a skills system that prepares UK knowledge workers for the AI transition
AI has transformative potential for the UK economy and could present a net uplift to productivity of up to £80 billion by 2035. Yet the UK workforce does not – yet – have the skills to successfully adopt and scale AI technologies in a truly transformative way.
22 Medi 2026
AI skills investment could add £80 billion to the UK economy
The UK can secure an £80 billion boost to its economy by 2035 if the Government and businesses act together to strengthen the technical skills system, according to a major report published today by L&W and The Rigby Foundation.
15 Medi 2026
Labour market dashboard
Every month, Learning and Work Institute produces detailed and timely analysis of the latest labour market statistics from ONS. Explore our interactive charts.
7 Medi 2026
UK must make training the ‘go-to’ response to skills needs, or risk holding back growth, new report warns
The Government’s plans to get the economy growing risk falling short unless it takes action to reverse sharp falls in the training employees get at work, new analysis warns.
7 Medi 2026
Understanding employer investment in skills
This is the third and final report of our project funded by the Nuffield Foundation looking at employer investment in skills, and how employees are responding to the need to upskill and retrain in a transitioning economy.
12 Awst 2026
Small employers, big opportunities: apprenticeships for young people
Olly Newton, Executive Director at Edge Foundation, reflects on key messages from the Edge Foundation-sponsored workshop at Learning and Work Institute’s Employment and Skills Convention, exploring how small employers and local partners can support more young people into apprenticeships.
29 Mehefin 2026
What enables the effective design, delivery and evaluation of local work and health programmes?
This report presents findings from an evidence review on what enables the effective design, delivery and evaluation of local health and work programmes.
29 Mehefin 2026
Scoping report: Labour Market Evidence Programme
This scoping report as part of the Labour Market Evidence programme provides a summary of the work undertaken by IES and L&W between October 2025 and March 2026 including user consultation. It summarises the evidence needs of local policy makers and sets out how these needs can be addressed.
