Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the contribution of independent training providers to the delivery of apprenticeships.

Independent Training Providers (ITPs) play a vital role in England's skills system and deliver a significant proportion of apprenticeship training.

ITPs provide flexible, employer-responsive training that complements wider further education provision and enables apprenticeships to meet the needs of employers across the economy. Working with both large national employers and local small and medium-sized businesses, they support learners to develop the skills required by industry and local labour markets.

The sector has demonstrated significant improvements in quality and learner outcomes in recent years, reflecting the commitment of providers and their staff to delivering high-quality training. This focus on quality, alongside strong employer engagement, helps apprenticeships deliver value for learners, employers and taxpayers.

Operating across a wide range of sectors and regions, ITPs make an important contribution to supporting economic growth, improving workforce skills and ensuring apprenticeship opportunities remain accessible to employers and learners throughout the country.