This webinar comes at a pivotal moment for employers navigating a rapidly evolving skills and apprenticeship landscape. Recent government announcements have introduced a series of significant changes, including new employer incentives, the rollout of apprenticeship units, and the streamlining of standards. Together, these reforms are beginning to reshape how employers recruit, train and develop their workforce.
For many employers, the direction of travel is becoming clearer, but the detail and practical implications remain complex. Decisions about whether to recruit apprentices, invest in upskilling existing staff, or engage with new training models are being made in real time, often without a full picture of how the system will operate in practice. This session is designed to help bridge that gap.
Delivered in partnership with AELP, the St Martin’s Group and the 5% Club, the webinar will provide a clear and accessible overview of what is changing, when changes are expected to take effect, and what this means for employers on the ground. The session will explore key themes including the impact of financial incentives on recruitment decisions, the role and purpose of apprenticeship units, and how the removal or reform of certain standards may affect workforce planning.
- Date/Time: Wednesday, 29 April 2026 | 2:00–3:00pm
- Register now: here
Agenda
The webinar will take the form of a moderated panel discussion with short scene-setting inputs, followed by interactive elements (live polling and Q&A) to gather employer insight.
Chair: Ben Rowland (AELP)
- 2:00–2:05 | Welcome and introduction
Opening remarks from Chair
Overview of purpose, audience, and what attendees will gain
- 2:05–2:15 | Scene-setting: what’s changing and when
Short overview of recent policy changes:
Streamlining of standards
Employer incentives
Apprenticeship units
Delivered by AELP (Ben Rowland / Simon Ashworth)
- 2:15–2:35 | Panel discussion: what this means for employers
Contributions from:
- Simon Ashworth (AELP)
- Lindsay Conroy (The 5% Club)
- Emily Rock (St Martin’s Group)
Focus on practical implications for: Recruitment decisions; Workforce development; Engagement with apprenticeships
- 2:35–2:45 | Interactive polling and audience insight
Live polls to gather employer views on:
Likely response to incentives
Appetite for apprenticeship units
Impact of streamlining decisions
Brief reflections from panel on emerging results
- 2:45–2:55 | Q&A
Open Q&A with attendees (submitted via chat)
Chair to prioritise questions reflecting common themes
2:55–3:00 | Closing remarks and next steps
Summary of key messages
How insights will be used to inform engagement with government
Signposting to further support and resources
