How have apprenticeships worked up until now?
Up until now, those who want to apply for an apprenticeship can use the gov.uk website, and search for apprenticeships that are available to apply for. However, not all apprenticeships will be available on the gov.uk website; some businesses advertise their apprenticeships on platforms like Indeed, or on their own websites and social media. This means that those applying for apprenticeships may have to submit numerous applications for different organisations, across a number of different platforms.
For businesses, this means managing the process of applications across different platforms, or choosing a single platform to advertise an apprenticeship on. Using multiple platforms to advertise can increase workload, particularly for SMEs who may not have specific hiring managers. However, advertising on a single platform could reduce applications from candidates.
UCAS, and the university application system
In comparison, the university application system allows students to make their applications through a centralised system. In the UK, this is UCAS (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service. Through this system, students fill in a single application which includes their education, and a personal statement.
They then select up to five courses (most typically across different universities) that they want to apply to. The applications are reviewed, and universities offer places to students using the terms conditional (for those who need to meet requirements such as exam results) or unconditional (for those who have already met these requirements).
Students can then select an offer as their ‘firm’ choice (the university they want to attend) and then a second ‘insurance’ choice (their backup university, often with lower entry requirements). All other offers are turned down automatically.
How does University Clearing work?
For students who choose to decline all the offers they have received, don’t receive any offers, or do not meet their entry requirements for both their firm and insurance choices, they then move to clearing. Using the UCAS online hub, students are ‘matched’ with university courses that are similar to the courses they originally applied for, with entry requirements that the student meets. From there, students can express interest in courses, and universities can contact them directly. The student may then be offered a place.
How will Apprenticeship Clearing work?
According to gov.uk, as well as the introduction of Apprenticeship Clearing, there will also be a new online platform which will ‘give young people clear, accessible information about apprenticeships and career outcomes’. This means that ‘near miss’ applicants who don’t secure their top choice apprenticeship will be re-directed to similar opportunities in their area.’
Whilst we don’t have much more information at present, if candidates are to be redirected to alternative apprenticeships, it sounds like a centralised application hub may be on the way. If the government plans to continue using its pre-existing apprenticeship search, this may be another reason for businesses to advertise their apprenticeships on the gov.uk website. The system will be trialled over the next year, which means we can expect more information on this new platform throughout 2026.
The November 2025 budget also announced the removal of the 5% co-investment rate for SMEs, meaning that training costs for apprentices under the age of 25 will be fully funded. Apprenticeship reforms like these should support both young people entering the workforce, and SMEs who want to invest in apprenticeships, and attract new talent.
