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Apprenticeship units – accessible version of toolkit

Published 2 September 2026

Applies to England

Apprenticeship units represent a significant new approach to workforce upskilling, offering short, targeted training built from existing apprenticeship occupational standards.

This toolkit equips training providers with the information and resources needed to engage employers effectively to support the uptake of apprenticeship units.

The resource will expand over time, incorporating new content as the apprenticeship units programme develops and matures.

About apprenticeship units

What are apprenticeship units?

Apprenticeship units are short training programmes designed to address specific critical skills gaps in the workforce rather than those looking to begin a new occupation or career. These units are built from the knowledge and skills within existing apprenticeship occupational standards.

The units currently available are:

• artificial intelligence (AI) leadership - AI adoption, procurement and governance
• AI leadership - AI delivery and organisational transformation
• AI leadership - AI strategy and opportunity
• Battery manufacturing
• Electric vehicle charging point installation and maintenance
• Electrical fitting and assembly
• Mechanical fitting and assembly
• Permanent modular building assembly
• Solar photovoltaic (PV) installation and maintenance
• Welding - mechanised

This initial release aligns with the Industrial Strategy and reflects evidence and advice from Skills England on where demand, impact and need are greatest.

Work will continue to identify and prioritise critical skills needs which could benefit from apprenticeship units.

Who are apprenticeship units for?

Apprenticeship units are designed to support growth and productivity within businesses, upskilling existing employees aged 19 and over where new skills are required or where their job is changing.

Key features:

• fully funded for non-levy employers, typically small to medium employers (SMEs)
• levy payers can use their levy funds to pay for apprenticeship units
• range between 30 and 140 hours
• can be delivered over a period of one to 16 weeks
• provide employers with a flexible option for developing their workforce

There are no standalone English or maths requirements, beyond what is needed for the skill being developed.

Eligibility

Who can deliver apprenticeship units?

For the initial launch, delivery of apprenticeship units is limited to a targeted group of apprenticeship training providers who can demonstrate strong performance in the occupational standards from which the units are drawn.

This approach allows the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to:

• introduce the new offer in a controlled way
• ensure consistent implementation
• gather early insights before scaling up

To be eligible, providers must:

• be on the Apprenticeship Provider and Assessment Register (APAR) and actively delivering apprenticeships
• deliver the standards or sector subject areas (Tier 2) from which apprenticeship units are drawn (based on 2024 to 2025 delivery data)
• not have any indicators rated as ‘at risk’ on the Apprenticeship Accountability Framework
• be free from contractual funding restrictions

Funding

Funding for apprenticeship units

Non-levy paying employers

Apprenticeship units are fully funded for non-levy paying employers.

Levy-paying employers

For learners aged 19 to 24, apprenticeship units are fully funded for levy paying employers.

For learners aged 25 and over, levy paying employers can use their levy funds to pay for apprenticeship units. When account funds are exhausted, they will move into co-investment.

Co-investment for levy-paying employers

The employer co-investment rate for levy payers who exhausted their levy funds increased from 5% to 25% on 1 August for new starts.

Whether levy payers spend their funds on apprenticeships or apprenticeship units, the government contribution will reduce from 100% to 95% until the end of July, and then to 75% from August onwards.

To reduce providers’ administrative burden, providers will not be required to evidence collection of co-investments from employers (whether at 5% or 25%). Read changes to apprenticeship levy funding for more information.

Benefits

Benefits for employers

• use short, targeted training to upskill existing employees and keep pace with new technologies
• create multi-skilled workers and address skills gaps to drive efficiencies
• apprenticeship units are fully funded for non-levy payers, typically SMEs
• for the first time, levy payers can use their levy funds to pay for apprenticeship units
• training can be delivered over a timescale that fits around business operation needs without the longer-term commitment of an apprenticeship
• content is drawn from employer-created, approved occupational standards, ensuring training is relevant and high-quality

Benefits for training providers

• deliver a new programme, opening new business opportunities aligned with employer demand
• build deeper relationships with employers through ongoing workforce development
• providers selected based on proven track record, building confidence in the market
• each unit is built from existing apprenticeship standards, giving providers employer-designed, quality assured content to structure delivery around

Benefits for learners

• enhance career progression and upskill to take on new responsibilities or move into new areas of work
• training is built from the knowledge and skills in existing apprenticeship standards, meaning it is relevant, practical and trusted by industry
• provide shorter flexible learning that can be completed alongside existing employment and develops skills that directly apply to the job
• skills learned can be applied in the workplace straightaway, building confidence and capability

Apprenticeship unit details

AI leadership - AI adoption, procurement and governance

Level 5

Route: digital, business and administration

Maximum funding: £750

Purpose:

Help build new skills leading organisational change and be responsible for setting direction, governance and oversight for AI use.

What you’ll learn:

• evaluate AI solutions and vendors using structured criteria
• make procurement decisions based on testing and user validation
• assess risks associated with AI acquisition
• implement AI governance frameworks, including roles, responsibilities, and escalation routes
• establish ethical, legal and regulatory assurance and compliance processes
• design and implement human oversight mechanisms for AI systems

Included occupations:

• AI and automation practitioner
• chartered manager (degree)
• machine learning engineer
• senior leader (degree)

Visit the Skills England AI leadership - AI adoption, procurement and governance page for further details.

AI leadership - AI delivery and organisational transformation

Level 5

Route: digital, business and administration

Maximum funding: £750

Purpose:

Help build new skills leading organisational change and be responsible for setting direction, governance and oversight for AI use.

What you’ll learn:

• lead AI-driven organisational change aligned to organisation objectives
• manage workforce and organisational impacts adopting AI
• implement and monitor AI risk management processes
• ensure audit and regulatory compliance, including incident and security planning
• monitor performance and risks of AI systems
• communicating AI risks and opportunities

Included occupations:

• AI and automation practitioner
• chartered manager (degree)
• machine learning engineer
• senior leader (degree)

Visit the Skills England AI leadership - AI delivery and organisational transformation page for further details.

AI leadership - AI strategy and opportunity

Level 5

Route: digital, business and administration

Maximum funding: £750

Purpose:

Help build new skills leading organisational change and be responsible for setting direction, governance and oversight for AI use.

What you’ll learn:

• leadership in setting AI policy and strategy
• identify AI driven improvements using evidence and risk assessment
• create and communicate an AI strategy aligned to organisational goals
• assess viability and risk to identify investment areas, feasibility, impact and organisational readiness
• engage stakeholders to build support for AI strategy and adoption
• review, adapt, and respond to emerging technology and trends

Included occupations:

• AI and automation practitioner
• chartered manager (degree)
• machine learning engineer
• senior leader (degree)

Visit the Skills England AI leadership - AI strategy and opportunity page for further details.

Battery manufacturing

Level 2

Route: engineering and manufacturing technologies

Maximum funding: £1,650

Purpose:

Help build new skills in battery manufacturing.

What you’ll learn:

• apply health and safety legislation, regulations and safe working practices
• interpret battery manufacturing specifications and technical documents
• plan and organise tasks using effective communication, teamwork, and time management techniques
• selecting the right tools and equipment
• safely carry out battery manufacturing activities as required
• carry out quality checks to ensure requirements are met

Visit the Skills England battery manufacturing page for further details.

Electric vehicle (EV) charging point installation and maintenance

Level 3

Route: construction and the built environment

Maximum funding: £950

Purpose:

Help build new skills to install, inspect, test and maintain commercial electric vehicle charger units.

What you’ll learn:

• health and safety, legislation, and safe working practices
• use core maths, electrical, and scientific principles to install, test, fault find, and maintain systems
• understand equipment types, features, and requirements
• carry out high-level design, planning, installation and commissioning to industry standards
• perform fault finding, inspection, testing and maintenance using appropriate tools and techniques
• keep accurate records and communicate using digital platforms

Included occupations:

• installation electrician and maintenance electrician

Visit the Skills England EV charging point installation and maintenance page for further details.

Electrical fitting and assembly

Level 2

Route: engineering and manufacturing technologies

Maximum funding: £1,650

Purpose:

Help build new skills in electrical fitting and assembly fundamentals.

What you’ll learn:

• interpret electrical specifications, drawings, and technical documents
• plan and organise electrical fitting and assembly effectively
• selecting the right tools and equipment
• wire, route and terminate different types of electrical cables
• carry out electrical fitting tasks safely and correctly
• conduct testing during and after fitting and assembly
• identifying and diagnosing faults

Visit the Skills England electrical fitting and assembly website for further details.

Mechanical fitting and assembly

Level 2

Route: engineering and manufacturing technologies

Maximum funding: £1,650

Purpose:

Help build new skills in mechanical fitting and assembly fundamentals.

What you’ll learn:

• apply health and safety legislation, regulations and safe working practices
• interpret mechanical specifications, drawings, and technical documents
• plan and organise mechanical fitting and assembly effectively
• selecting the right tools and equipment
• measure and mark out materials accurately before assembly
• carry out mechanical fitting tasks safely and correctly
• identifying and diagnosing faults
• perform quality checks to ensure requirements are met

Visit the Skills England mechanical fitting and assembly pagee for further details.

Permanent modular building assembly

Level 2

Route: construction and the built environment

Maximum funding: £3,200

Purpose:

Help build new skills to construct and assemble modular buildings designed for long term use.

What you’ll learn:

• apply health, safety, environmental and welfare rules within current legislation
• interpret technical documents and survey data to measure, mark, align and set out components and systems accurately
• select and install components and temporary works safely, including lifting and handling requirements
• construct modular building components according to specifications and drawings.
• install and check internal services and fire protection systems to meet regulatory standards
• apply finishing techniques and products using appropriate tools

Included occupations:

• construction assembly and installation operative

Visit the Skills England permanent modular building assembly page for further details.

Solar PV installation and maintenance

Level 3

Route: construction and the built environment

Maximum funding: £950

Purpose:

Help build new skills in solar photovoltaic (PV) installation and maintenance fundamentals.

What you’ll learn:

• apply health and safety legislation, regulations and safe working practices
• use core maths, electrical, and scientific principles to install, test, fault find, and maintain systems
• understand the main equipment types and requirements in commercial and residential settings
• carry out high-level design, planning, installation and commissioning to industry standards
• perform fault finding, inspection, testing and maintenance using appropriate tools and techniques
• keep accurate records and communicate using digital platforms

Included occupations:

• installation electrician and maintenance electrician

Visit the Skills England solar PV installation and maintenance page for further details.

Welding (mechanised)

Level 2 Route: engineering and manufacturing technologies

Maximum funding: £2,100

Purpose

Help build new skills to use and apply mechanised welding techniques

What you’ll learn

• apply health and safety regulations, including correct use of PPE and safe working practices
• prepare welding materials and the work area correctly
• set up and operate welding tools and equipment, adjusting controls as required
• carry out welding using appropriate mechanised processes for different joint configurations and positions
• identify surface defects and apply visual inspection and dimensional checks to ensure quality standards

Included occupations:

• general welder (arc processes)

Visit the Skills England welding (mechanised) page for further details.

Progression

Progression journey

Apprenticeship units create a clear progression route into a full apprenticeship for learners who wish to pursue this route.

Where someone has taken an apprenticeship unit and progresses onto the linked apprenticeship, it will count as prior learning. All apprenticeships must still have a remaining duration of at least 8 months and comply with off-the-job training requirements.

Apprenticeship unit

• learn critical skills in current or new job role
• courses will last between 1 to 16 weeks
• flexible learning can be completed alongside existing employment

Apprenticeship

• recognised qualification ranging from level 2 to 6
• courses will last from 8 months to 6 years
• prior learning recognised when progressing to a full apprenticeship

Potential opportunities

• additional apprenticeship unit
• same level apprenticeship
• higher level apprenticeship
• further study

Assessment

How apprenticeship units will be assessed

Training providers must ensure that a skills test is carried out for every learner to confirm they have acquired the knowledge and skills set out in the apprenticeship unit. Employers will need to validate the result to confirm the learner has been successful.

If an employer or learner feels external independent assessment is needed, for example to meet regulatory requirements, they can work with their training provider to arrange this.

Guidance is available on apprenticeship unit assessment to help support the assessment process.

Further assessment details can also be found on the Skills England website for each apprenticeship unit.

Assets and social media

Downloadable assets

The Growth and Skills Levy resource page has the following resources that are available to download to use in your engagement activities:

• factsheets and toolkits
• social media assets
• presentations

Some assets can be adapted to include your organisation’s logo and contact details.

Contact

We want to showcase how training providers are using apprenticeship units. Please share your experiences by completing the form.

We welcome your feedback and suggestions on this toolkit. Please email marcomms.mailbox@dwp.gov.uk.

Follow Apprenticeships and Skills on LinkedIn for the latest information on apprenticeships and skills.