These regulations amend several existing UK statutory instruments to reflect the abolition of the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education and the subsequent transfer of its functions to the Secretary of State.
Specifically, the regulations replace references to the Institute with the Secretary of State in the Education (Student Support) Regulations 2011 and amend the Apprenticeships (Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations 2017, removing the Institute’s power to charge fees for evaluating apprenticeship assessments.
Additionally, they remove the Institute from listings of public bodies in the Trade Union (Facility Time Publication Requirements) Regulations 2017 and the Trade Union (Deduction of Union Subscriptions from Wages in the Public Sector) Regulations 2024.
The regulations came into force on July 2nd, 2025.
Arguments For
Streamlined Governance: The transfer of functions to the Secretary of State simplifies the governance structure, potentially improving efficiency and accountability.
Clarity and Consistency: Replacing references to the abolished Institute with the Secretary of State ensures clarity and consistency in relevant legislation.
Legislative Alignment: The amendments align various regulations with the changes brought about by the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (Transfer of Functions etc) Act 2025.
Cost Savings: Removing the Institute's fee-charging power for apprenticeship assessment evaluations may lead to cost savings.
Arguments Against
Increased Centralization: Transferring functions to the Secretary of State may lead to increased centralization and potential delays in decision-making.
Potential for Bureaucracy: The shift could introduce additional layers of bureaucracy, slowing down processes related to apprenticeships and education.
Unforeseen Consequences: Amendments to multiple regulations might have unintended consequences that are not immediately apparent.
Impact on Stakeholders: Changes to processes and terminology may require significant adaptation from stakeholders involved with apprenticeships and education.
- Citation, commencement and extent (1) These Regulations may be cited as the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (Transfer of Functions etc) Act 2025 (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2025 and come into force on 2nd July 2025. (2) Any amendment made by these Regulations has the same extent as the provision amended.
This section provides the title and effective date of the regulations.
The regulations' title indicates their purpose: amending existing legislation following changes to the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education.
The effective date is July 2nd, 2025.
The section also states the regulations' geographical reach is the same as the legislation being amended.
- Amendment of the Education (Student Support) Regulations 2011 (1) The Education (Student Support) Regulations 2011 are amended as follows. (2) In regulation 2(1) (interpretation: general), in the definition of “approved HTQ”, in paragraph (a), for “Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education” substitute “Secretary of State”. (3) In regulation 2B(2) (recognition of initial further education teacher training courses), for “Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education” substitute “Secretary of State”.
This section details amendments to the Education (Student Support) Regulations 2011.
Specifically, it replaces all instances of "Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education" with "Secretary of State" in two specific sections: regulation 2(1), within the definition of 'approved HTQ', and regulation 2B(2), dealing with the recognition of further education teacher training courses.
This reflects the transfer of the Institute's functions.
- Amendment of the Trade Union (Facility Time Publication Requirements) Regulations 2017 In the Trade Union (Facility Time Publication Requirements) Regulations 2017, in Schedule 1 (public authorities), omit paragraph 119.
This section describes how the Trade Union (Facility Time Publication Requirements) Regulations 2017 are altered.
It removes paragraph 119 from Schedule 1 which previously listed the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education among public authorities.
This reflects the entity's dissolution.
- Amendment of the Apprenticeships (Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations 2017 (1) The Apprenticeships (Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations 2017 are amended as follows. (2) In regulation 3(3) (off-the-job training), for “approved apprenticeship standard” substitute “published standard”. (3) In regulation 4(2)(c) (practical period), for “approved standard” substitute “published standard”. (4) In regulation 5(2)(e) (duration of practical period), for “approved standard”, in both places it occurs, substitute “published standard”. (5) In regulation 6 (alternative English apprenticeships)— (a) for “an approved standard”, in each place it occurs, substitute “a published standard”; (b) for “approved standards”, in both places it occurs, substitute “published standards”. (6) Omit Part 3 (fees for the carrying out of evaluations of apprenticeship assessments).
This section outlines multiple amendments to the Apprenticeships (Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations 2017.
It replaces "approved apprenticeship standard" and "approved standard" with "published standard" in various parts of the regulations affecting off-the-job training, practical periods, and alternative apprenticeships.
Importantly, it also removes Part 3, eliminating the Institute's power to charge fees for evaluating apprenticeship assessments.
- Amendment of the Trade Union (Deduction of Union Subscriptions from Wages in the Public Sector) Regulations 2024 In the Trade Union (Deduction of Union Subscriptions from Wages in the Public Sector) Regulations 2024, in the Schedule (relevant public sector employers), omit paragraph 121.
This section details an amendment to the Trade Union (Deduction of Union Subscriptions from Wages in the Public Sector) Regulations 2024.
It removes paragraph 121 from the schedule, which listed the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education as a relevant public sector employer.
This is consistent with the Institute's dissolution.