The UK Government’s recent announcement to remove funding for Level 7 apprenticeships for individuals aged 22 and over from January 2026 represents a profound misunderstanding of professional development needs and economic realities. As the Institute of Sales Professionals (ISP), we stand firmly opposed to this short-sighted policy that will undermine the very foundations of skills development that our economy desperately needs.
A policy that defies logic
The decision to shift funding away from Level 7 apprenticeships as part of the broader £3 billion investment strategy demonstrates a fundamental misalignment between policy and practice. While the government claims to be focusing resources on lower-level schemes, this approach ignores the critical role that senior-level professionals play in driving organisational success and economic growth.
Level 7 apprenticeships, equivalent to master’s degree level qualifications, have proven instrumental in developing the strategic thinking, leadership capabilities, and advanced technical skills that businesses require to remain competitive in an increasingly complex global marketplace. For sales professionals, these programmes provide essential training in strategic account management, advanced negotiation techniques, digital transformation, and leadership skills that directly translate into improved business performance.
Industry voices speak out
We are not alone in our opposition to this policy. Professional bodies across multiple sectors have raised serious concerns about the implications of this funding withdrawal. The Chartered Management Institute (CMI), which delivers Level 7 senior leader apprenticeships focused on strategic management and leadership, has long championed the value these programmes bring to organisational capability development.
Similarly, other professional institutions have highlighted how Level 7 apprenticeships serve as a critical pathway for career progression, particularly for individuals who may not have accessed traditional higher education routes earlier in their careers. The removal of funding effectively creates a barrier to professional advancement that disproportionately impacts working adults seeking to enhance their skills while maintaining their career responsibilities.
The false economy of short-term thinking
The government’s rationale appears to centre on cost reduction and a desire to prioritise entry-level training. However, this approach represents a false economy that will ultimately cost the UK more in lost productivity, reduced competitiveness, and missed opportunities for innovation.
Research consistently demonstrates that investment in senior-level skills development yields exponential returns through improved strategic decision-making, enhanced team performance, and increased organisational resilience. In the sales profession specifically, advanced practitioners who have completed Level 7 programmes typically deliver significantly higher revenue generation, improved customer satisfaction, and better long-term client relationships.
Moreover, the timing of this policy change is particularly concerning given the current economic challenges facing UK businesses. At a time when organisations need their most skilled professionals to navigate complex market conditions, digital transformation, and evolving customer expectations, the government is effectively withdrawing support for the very training programmes that develop these capabilities.
Gender equality and social mobility concerns
The impact of this policy extends beyond immediate skills development concerns. As highlighted by equality advocates, cutting funding for Level 7 apprenticeships represents a significant step backwards for gender equality and social mobility. These programmes have provided crucial opportunities for individuals, particularly women returning to work and professionals from diverse backgrounds to access senior-level training without the financial barriers associated with traditional postgraduate education.
The removal of funding will inevitably create a two-tier system where only those with sufficient personal resources or employer backing can access advanced professional development. This undermines decades of progress in creating more inclusive pathways to senior positions and threatens to reduce diversity in leadership roles across all sectors.
What government should do instead
Rather than wholesale removal of Level 7 funding, the ISP proposes a more nuanced approach that addresses legitimate concerns about value for money while preserving essential professional development pathways:
1. Implement sector-specific assessment
The government should work with professional bodies and Skills England to identify priority sectors where Level 7 apprenticeships deliver demonstrable economic value. Sales and business development, given their direct impact on revenue generation and business growth, should be among the protected categories.
2. Introduce performance-based funding
Rather than blanket removal, implement outcome-based funding models that reward programmes demonstrating clear returns on investment through improved business performance, career progression, and salary advancement for participants.
3. Establish employer co-investment thresholds
Introduce graduated co-investment requirements where employers contribute more significantly to Level 7 programmes while maintaining public funding support. This ensures employer commitment while preserving accessibility for SMEs and individuals.
4. Create bridging programmes
Develop pathways that connect Level 6 apprenticeships to Level 7 qualifications, ensuring career progression routes remain available while optimising funding allocation across skill levels.
5. Maintain support for under-represented groups
Preserve full funding for Level 7 apprenticeships for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, career changers, and those returning to work after career breaks, ensuring social mobility opportunities are not compromised.
The cost of inaction
If the government proceeds with this policy without modification, the consequences will be severe and long-lasting. We predict:
· A significant reduction in advanced skills development across critical business functions
· Increased brain drain as professionals seek development opportunities in other countries
· Reduced competitiveness for UK businesses in global markets
· Widening skills gaps in senior positions
· Decreased social mobility and increased inequality in professional advancement
A call for reconsideration
The Institute of Sales Professionals urges the government to reconsider this damaging policy. We call for immediate consultation with professional bodies, industry leaders, and skills experts to develop a more balanced approach that maintains support for essential Level 7 apprenticeships while addressing legitimate concerns about funding efficiency.
The UK’s economic future depends on having a highly skilled workforce capable of competing in the global marketplace. Withdrawing support for advanced professional development is not just short-sighted; it is economically self-defeating.
We stand ready to work constructively with government, employers, and training providers to develop solutions that preserve the vital role of Level 7 apprenticeships in building the skilled workforce our economy needs. The stakes are too high, and the consequences too severe, to allow this policy to proceed without substantial modification.
The time for action is now. The future of professional development, economic competitiveness, and social mobility hangs in the balance.
The Institute of Sales Professionals represents over 5000 sales professionals across the UK and is committed to advancing professional standards, ethics, and development opportunities within the sales profession.
Written by Dan Hodgetts, Chief Operating Officer, Institute of Sales Professionals