Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education

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]

Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE)

Abbreviation	IfATE
Formation	2017; 8 years ago (2017)
Dissolved	2025; 0 years ago (2025)
Type	Crown status non-departmental public body
Purpose	Apprenticeships Technical education
Region served	United Kingdom
Key people	Baroness Ruby McGregor-Smith CBE Jennifer Coupland Dr Kate Barclay Bev Robinson CBE Dame Fiona Kendrick Bev Robinson CBE Sir Robin Millar Professor Malcolm Press CBE Sir Peter Estlin Neil Morrison Jane Hadfield Mark McClennon MBE
Parent organization	Department for Education
Website	www.instituteforapprenticeships.org

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 1st June 2025 IfATE was abolished and on 2nd 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 1st June 2025 IfATE was abolished.

Governance

As of 2024^[update] the IfATE board of directors included:

• Ruby McGregor-Smith^[17] CBE^[18]
• Jennifer Coupland (Chief Executive)^[18]
• Dr Kate Barclay^[18]
• Bev Robinson CBE^[19]
• Fiona Kendrick DBE^[18]
• Robin Millar CBE^[18]
• Malcolm Press CBE^[18]
• Peter Estlin^[18]
• Neil Morrison^[18]
• Jane Hadfield^[18]
• Mark McClennon MBE^[18]

Previous board members include Gerald Berragan,^[20] Antony Jenkins, Toby Peyton-Jones OBE,^[21] Jessica Leigh Jones MBE and John Cope.

Abolition

The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (Transfer of Functions etc) Act 2025 included provision to abolish the Institute and transfer its functions to the Department for Education.^[22]