News

Report from the Edge Foundation/FE News Breaking Barriers Collective which sets out to find ways to tackle the NEET crisis and shape solutions that could influence the Milburn Review.

Edge met Minister for Skills, Baroness Jacqui Smith recently to update her on the Apprenticeships Work and Small Business Summer campaigns. The minister expressed her support for Apprenticeships Work and Small Business Summer and noted their alignment with the Government's efforts to increase SME engagement. She also filmed a video endorsement of our campaigns.

Edge Foundation and 12 leading skills organisations have written a letter to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Pat McFadden MP calling on the Government to provide a sustainable funding stream for apprenticeship brokerage services outside the Mayoral Strategic Authority areas.

Apprenticeships Work campaign partner BPP is rolling out a series of regional events aimed at helping small businesses unlock the potential of young people in England this spring and summer.

Apprenticeships Work welcomes today's announcement on reforming the skills system and the ambition to unlock 200,000 new jobs and apprenticeships for young people.

It's good to see further detail on the roll-out of V Levels, including confirmation that they will initially be available from 2027

Edge policy team recently met with Blair McDougall, Minister for Small Business, to discuss the pressures facing SMEs and the future of apprenticeships and skills policy.

We’re delighted to announce the start of Small Business Summer, the natural next step in our Apprenticeships Work campaign.

It's National Apprenticeships Week and we’ll be celebrating apprenticeships at SMEs with SMEs represent 99% of UK businesses and 60% of total employment but their engagement in apprenticeships has been flagging in recent years...

Edge Foundation and 28 business leaders and sector stakeholders who are partners in Apprenticeships Work have signed and sent a letter to Pat McFadden MP, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.

Apprenticeships Work welcomes the Chancellor’s decision to fully fund all apprenticeships for under-25s in SMEs. This is an important step towards easing training costs for small and medium-sized businesses. We would also welcome the publication of the evidence informing this policy...

Edge convened a private roundtable in Parliament on 24 November 2025 to discuss the Apprenticeships Work campaign and establish a broad base of support around our key messages. This is a crucial time for apprenticeship policy in the wake of recent Government announcements on new targets for apprenticeship participation...