Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 16th April 2026 Issue no. 1206

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BCC 'extremely disappointed' at Apprenticeship defunding - a statement

Following Monday's announcement by the Secretary of State for Work & Pensions Rt Hon Pat McFadden MP, which related to a number of apprenticeships being defunded, the British Cleaning Council issued the following statement:

"We are extremely disappointed to hear of the planned defunding of the Level 2 Cleaning Hygiene Operative apprenticeship. This is an alarming step backwards for one of the biggest industries in the UK; a sector which underpins public health & safety, and national resilience.

The industry lobbied for this entry-level qualification for years, partly to help attract young people to work in the sector. Removing this foundational pathway strips new entrants of a vital professional route, undermines workforce capability at a time of acute labour shortages, and signals a devaluation of the essential skills that keep workplaces, schools, hospitals and communities safe.

Just over two years after the apprenticeship was approved, 88 learners have been certified, 245 apprentices are currently on the programme, and 25 employers and 15 training providers are taking part.

It is deeply unfair that we face once again being in the situation where the cleaning and hygiene sector spends millions of pounds annually in Levy payments but businesses do not have a dedicated cleaning & hygiene apprenticeship to invest those funds in.

We are working with organisations across the sector to actively explore options to challenge this decision."

For an explanation of the announcement plus a list of apprenticeships affected, visit:
https://feweek.co.uk/apprenticeships-purge-team-leader-and-chartered-manager-among-16-axed-standards

19th March 2026