From April 2026, employers will gain a new way to invest their levy – one that accelerates skills, strengthens business performance and builds confidence across teams. The government’s Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper confirms the introduction of apprenticeship units. Short, flexible courses built from existing apprenticeship standards.
A new model for modern business
Designed to make the UK’s skills system faster, more responsive and aligned with business priorities, these units will allow employers to use their levy to build targeted capability in areas such as artificial intelligence, digital and engineering in the first wave of apprenticeship units from April 2026.
At Corndel, we welcome this focus on applied learning that delivers measurable business impact. From years of partnering with the UK’s leading employers, we’ve consistently heard a clear message: organisations need development that delivers impact at speed. Our approach ensures apprenticeships deliver measurable impact at pace, with learners applying new skills from the very first week. By embracing modular units, we can amplify this impact, reaching more learners and organisations while maintaining the depth and rigour that make apprenticeships transformative.
Sean Cosgrove, Chief Commercial Officer at Corndel, said: “Apprenticeship units have the potential to transform how employers build capability. By combining flexibility with quality and rigour, they enable organisations to develop the specific skills that drive performance and innovation.
At Corndel, we’ve spent years designing learning that is responsive, applied and focused on business outcomes. This reform recognises the value of that approach and will help more employers access skills that deliver real results."
Designed for agility
Skills Minister Baroness Jacqui Smith has confirmed that apprenticeship units will “typically last between one week and a few months."
This flexibility gives organisations the agility to respond quickly to emerging technologies and evolving business priorities, whether that’s equipping leaders to use AI responsibly or empowering teams to apply data more intelligently.
Corndel’s programmes are built around the same principles: applied learning, expert one-to-one coaching and measurable performance outcomes that translate directly into business value.
Who can deliver them?
Organisations listed on the Apprenticeship Provider and Assessment Register (APAR) will be eligible to apply to deliver apprenticeship units funded by the Growth and Skills Levy.
Corndel already meets the core APAR requirement and will apply for approval under the new process once details are released. Corndel’s commitment to high-quality, employer-led training is reflected in our active role in shaping this policy.
We’re proud to have supported the Department for Education’s consultation process, hosting an employer roundtable to ensure that business leaders’ voices were heard.
How will they be funded?
Apprenticeship units will be funded through the Growth & Skills Levy (GSL), the successor to the current Apprenticeship Levy.
They will sit alongside, but remain distinct from, the forthcoming Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE), which from 2027 will support modular higher-level learning for individuals.
Building capability in AI and digital transformation
Through our AI and Data Academies, delivered in partnership with Imperial Executive Education and supported by Microsoft, Corndel already helps organisations develop the digital fluency and leadership required to thrive in the age of intelligent technology.
These Academies combine world-class insight with human-led coaching, ensuring people don't just understand new technologies, they know how to apply them responsibly and strategically.
This practical, partnership-driven approach is exactly what apprenticeship units are designed to encourage. Corndel is ready to help employers harness these new opportunities from day one.
Apprenticeship units represent a major evolution in the UK skills landscape, one that aligns perfectly with how modern organisations learn and grow.
For employers, they mean:
- Speed: build capability in weeks, not years
- Relevance: focus investment on the skills that unlock productivity
- Quality: rely on the rigour of the apprenticeship standards system
- Continuity: connect short courses with longer-term professional development pathways
As the Growth & Skills Levy launches, Corndel will continue to partner with employers to design and deliver learning that achieves measurable outcomes, building the capabilities that matter most for people, business and the economy.
Sources
- Department for Education, "Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper" (October 2025)
- FE Week, “Providers must join official register to offer new apprenticeship units” (October 2025)
- FE Week, “One-week apprenticeship units and five other things we learned from Smith’s White Paper briefing” (October 2025)