Latest statistics show that the number of Gateway applications sent by former Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) apprentices has jumped up in the face of government funding restrictions
This number is further boosted by the 66% rise in the number of RTPI planning apprentices that reached End-Point Assessment year-on-year in Q1 2025.
The government is set to restrict funding for apprenticeships, with Level 7 planning apprenticeships to be heavily affected.
RTPI planning apprenticeships making a last hurrah
The rise in applications suggests that the RTPI’s warning in July has not fallen on deaf ears, and more people are taking advantage of government funding for the apprenticeships while they still can.
Several RTPI-education partners have reported that 100% of their Level 7 apprentices since 2019 have been over 21 years old on entry, which will no longer be eligible under the new government rules. RTPI estimates this will shorten the pipeline of new planners by around 200 per year.
Furthermore, of these lost planners, statistics show that 70% have previously worked in local government, resulting in a loss of relevant experience for the profession. Estimates place lost investment at £1.7m per year, up to £6m at the end of the current parliament.
Simon Creer, director of communications and external affairs at the RTPI, said: “This apprenticeship was designed to provide an alternative route into an under-resourced profession and has delivered a strong pipeline of talent for employers.
“Today’s figures show that it is working, with more apprentices reaching Gateway and 226 apprentices achieving Chartered status. Cutting off funding for the vast majority of candidates at the point the programme is accelerating will be counterproductive to the government’s growth strategy.”
“Given the severe resourcing issues in local authority planning departments, capacity must be strengthened if the government is to meet its economic growth agenda and housing delivery targets.”
New restrictions will hit several apprenticeships
The new restrictions, announced in May, are intended to divert funding for Level 7 apprenticeships for those over 21 years old to other lower-level courses. This will include the 13 new Level 2 Construction courses available to adults in non-devolved areas.
The package also includes:
- A 32% increase in the Immigration Skills Charge, potentially delivering 45,000 extra training places for the domestic workforce and reducing reliance on migration for workers in priority sectors
- £14m in adult skills funding for construction to be devolved to local mayors in the next academic year, potentially supporting 5,000 new adult learners
- £136m invested in Skills Bootcamps in several sectors, potentially funding 40,000 learners
- £100m over the next four years, expanding Construction Skills Bootcamps
- 10 Technical Excellence Colleges for construction skills opening in September
Then-president of RIBA, Muyiwa Oki, said: “While we welcome the emphasis on wider skills development, the decision to refocus funding away from Level 7 apprenticeships is a misguided and backwards step that will reduce access to a flexible, accessible, and inclusive route into the architecture profession.
“This arbitrary age cut-off will negatively impact the number of architecture apprentices, at both Level 7 and likely Level 6, and will ultimately have the opposite effect of the government’s intention to get more young people into apprenticeships.
“We’ve worked closely with the government and parliamentarians to promote the value of Level 7 architecture apprenticeships, but our work is not over; we continue to advocate for architecture apprenticeships and the value they bring to the profession and society.”
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