Reform UK has announced a new £1.5 billion pledge aimed at increasing apprenticeship numbers and discouraging young people from pursuing what the party terms 'Mickey Mouse degrees.' The proposal includes a 30% wage credit for small and medium-sized businesses that hire apprentices.

Suella Braverman, Reform's Education and Skills spokesman, stated that Britain requires more apprentices, citing a crisis where one million young people are not in employment, education, or training. "We realise that to completely revamp the mindset of this country into the skills revolution that we need, the government will lead from the front," Braverman said. "That is why we will reimburse each business 30% of the wages when they take on a young apprentice. In doing so, a Reform government is investing 30% into each young person's success."

Under the proposed plan, businesses could save up to £4,500 per apprentice hired through the wage rebate. Additionally, a Reform government would introduce an apprenticeship retention bonus, offering £2,000 to workers who remain with the company that trained them for two years.

Reform estimates the total cost of these policies at £1.5 billion, partly funded by eliminating taxpayer-funded student loans for foreign students. Deputy leader Richard Tice indicated a willingness to engage in disputes with Brussels over such plans if they are deemed to be in the UK's best interest.

Braverman also criticized what she described as taxpayer-funded 'Mickey Mouse' degrees from 'third-rate universities,' listing gender studies and golf course studies as examples. She questioned the graduate outcomes for students pursuing such degrees, suggesting they often leave young people with significant debt and limited job prospects.

Reform said it would crack down on 'Micky Mouse' degrees like gender studies, leaving youngsters with thousands of pounds in debt and unable to find a job

The party aims to increase apprenticeship starts to 600,000 per year by the end of the next parliamentary term. Braverman argued that promoting apprenticeships in trades like construction and decoration is crucial for equipping young people for a future labor market potentially disrupted by artificial intelligence. "AI is not going to be able to paint a room!" she stated.

Speaking at a business in North London, Ms Braverman said boosting young people in trades would help protect them from AI disruption in the labour market

In response, the Labour party asserted that they are already focused on expanding apprenticeship opportunities, highlighting their commitment to 500,000 new jobs, apprenticeships, and training opportunities, including a guaranteed job for 18- to 24-year-olds who have been unemployed for 18 months.