Purpose

In 2024 new types of technical qualifications
were approved by Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical
Education, for delivery from 2025. These are funded nationally
under section 100 (1B) of the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and
Learning Act 2009.
 
To enable Combined Authorities and Combined
County Authorities to use their Adult Skills Fund budget to fund
the new technical qualifications from 2025, the Government will
need to transfer this funding power to them via a statutory
instrument.
 
The Department of Education has indicated that
a draft order will be provided in early February 2025, once it has
gone through the various internal checks and procedures. The
consent of the Combined Authority and each of its constituent
councils is required before the Order can be made. The Department
of Education is seeking consent as quickly as possible in order
that the Order can be enacted in time for the 2025/26 academic
year.