Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education
Non-departmental government body in the United Kingdom
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE)[1] was an employer led organisation that helped shape technical education[2] and apprenticeships in the United Kingdom. They did so by developing, reviewing and revising occupational standards[3] that form the basis of apprenticeships[4][5][6] and qualifications such as T Levels.[7] Post 16[8] and Higher Technical Qualifications[9] (HTQs). It was funded by the Department for Education of the Government of the United Kingdom.[10][11]
| |
| Abbreviation | IfATE |
|---|---|
| Formation | 2017 |
| Dissolved | 2025 |
| Type | Crown status non-departmental public body |
Region served | United Kingdom |
Key people |
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Parent organization | Department for Education |
| Website | www |
In 2024, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that Skills England would take over the function of IfATE, over the course of nine months.[12] On 1 June 2025 IfATE was abolished and on 2 June 2025 Skills England was formally established as an executive agency.[13]
Purpose
IfATE worked with employers to identify skills gaps in their sectors. They collaborated with employers to develop and revise occupational standards to match the skills requirements of the sector. IfATE also regulated and licensed bodies, such as further education colleges, to provide qualifications for apprenticeships in England. It was formed in April 2017 under the Technical and Further Education Act 2017 following on from the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009 and work of the National Apprenticeship Service.[14][15] IfATE was a non-departmental public body of the Department for Education (DfE).[16] On 1 June 2025 IfATE was abolished.
Governance
As of 2024[update] the IfATE board of directors included:
- Ruby McGregor-Smith[17][18]
- Jennifer Coupland (chief executive)[18]
- Dr Kate Barclay[18]
- Bev Robinson[19]
- Fiona Kendrick[18]
- Robin Millar[18]
- Malcolm Press[18]
- Peter Estlin[18]
- Neil Morrison[18]
- Jane Hadfield[18]
- Mark McClennon[18]
Previous board members include Gerald Berragan,[20] Antony Jenkins, Toby Peyton-Jones,[21] Jessica Leigh Jones and John Cope.
Abolition
| Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (Transfer of Functions etc) Act 2025[a] | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Act of Parliament | |||||||
.svg) | |||||||
| Long title | An Act to transfer the functions of the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education, and its property, rights and liabilities, to the Secretary of State; to abolish the Institute; and to make amendments relating to the transferred functions. | ||||||
| Citation | 2025 c. 14 | ||||||
| Territorial extent | England and Wales[b] | ||||||
| Dates | |||||||
| Royal assent | 15 May 2025 | ||||||
| Commencement |
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Status: Current legislation | |||||||
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |||||||
| Revised text of statute as amended | |||||||
The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (Transfer of Functions etc) Act 2025 (c. 14) included provision to abolish the Institute and transfer its functions to the Department for Education.[22]