Adult apprentices no longer required to do maths and English qualifications - Changes to requirements for apprenticeship courses will see 10,000 more apprenticeship starts a year, the Education Secretary has said.

Businesses employing adult apprentices will now have the power to decide whether a Maths and English qualification should be part of the prescribed course, following a rule change by the government. The Department for Education (DfE) says this could mean 10,000 more apprentices are able to complete courses every year.

Companies will be able to hire apprentices who do not have maths and English qualifications under new rules intended to bolster Britain’s domestic workforce and drive economic growth.