Foundation apprenticeships offer a new employment-based training route for young people to begin a meaningful career.
The first foundation apprenticeship standard in health and social care will be available from August 2025. This apprenticeship is mapped to roles such as adult care worker, healthcare support worker, personal assistant, and mental health support worker.
A health and social care foundation apprenticeship is an employment-based training offer that gives young people a route into a career in the health or social care sector and enables them to earn a wage while developing vital skills.
What are foundation apprenticeships?
They are not a replacement for existing apprenticeships, but designed to provide tailored support for a confident and successful transition from education to the workplace. Foundation apprenticeships are part of the government’s broader industrial strategy to support long-term workforce development and improve opportunities for young people.
Foundation apprenticeships are designed for young people aged 16 to 21, and up to 25 for those with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), care leavers or prison leavers. These apprenticeships focus on:
- developing core employability skills
- gaining entry-level competence in a foundation occupation
- building confidence and workplace readiness.
The minimum duration is eight months, with most programmes expected to last around 12 months depending on individual needs. The occupational standards are aligned to entry-level roles but provide clear progression routes into more advanced opportunities.
Young people will study English and maths if they haven’t yet achieved a grade 4 or above, but they won’t be required to pass these qualifications to complete their apprenticeship.
These apprenticeships allow young people to earn a wage while gaining the skills, knowledge, and experience they need to succeed, all while supporting the needs of employers facing workforce shortages.
PDF - 141KB
Take a look at some FAQs around foundation apprenticeships.
Supporting progression and workforce development
By investing in foundation apprenticeships, employers are helping shape a skilled, confident, and future-ready workforce, while giving young people a strong foundation to build a meaningful career in health and social care.
They can support clear progression routes and informed decision making on next steps for the young person. It will also help bridge the gap between employers in the health and care sectors where there are skills and resources shortages and where young people are not currently engaging with apprenticeships, but keen to build a rewarding career.
The foundation apprenticeship standard is mapped to the Adult Care Worker and Healthcare Support Worker apprenticeship standards and can support progression to a range of specialist occupations and apprenticeship standards.
Benefits and incentives for employers
Employers in the health and social care sectors are facing increasing pressure from skills shortages and workforce gaps. Foundation apprenticeships offer a valuable opportunity to address these challenges by:
- attracting early talent into the sector
- building trust and awareness before committing to longer-term progression
- creating a skilled, motivated and diverse workforce.
By supporting a young person through a foundation apprenticeship, employers can shape their development from the very start, helping them gain the experience, behaviours and confidence needed to succeed, and ultimately progress within the organisation.
Financial support and incentives for foundation apprenticeships
To make it easier for employers to take part, several incentives are available for the first 7 foundation apprenticeships made available:
- up to £2,000 per apprentice, paid in instalments
- fully funded training and assessment for apprentices aged up to 21, and for eligible individuals aged 22–24 (with an EHCP or care experience)
- £1,000 incentive payment for employing a 16–18-year-old apprentice
- National Insurance contribution relief for apprentices earning under £50,270 per year.
These measures help employers meet the additional support needs of foundation apprentices, while recognising their commitment to developing the next generation of the health and care workforce.
Find further information around funding.