Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to support the continuation of the thatching trade.

Thatching is a specialist heritage craft that plays an important role in preserving historic buildings, maintaining local character, and supporting skilled employment in rural communities.

Skills England’s predecessor organisation, Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE), worked closely with employers and representatives from the sector to develop a Level 2 Thatching Apprenticeship Standard, creating a recognised route into the occupation.

However, since its introduction in 2024, the apprenticeship has not recorded any learner starts. This suggests there may be barriers to uptake, such as the size and structure of the sector, the capacity of employers to support apprentices, or the availability of suitable training provision.

Skills England is keen to continue working with employers, training providers, and wider sector representatives to better understand these challenges and identify practical ways to strengthen routes into the profession, whether through improvements to the apprenticeship or through other skills products and training pathways that meet the needs of the sector and help sustain this important heritage skill for the future.