What 200 HR Directors Taught Us About UK Skills Levy Confusion

At Skills Booster UK, we’ve spoken directly with over 200 HR leaders from Levy-paying organisations in recent months. All of them contribute to the UK Apprenticeship Growth & Skills Levy, meaning they already have a ring-fenced training budget sitting in their account.

And yet, what we heard time and again was the same: confusion, frustration, and underuse.

Here are the five key insights from those conversations:

🔍 1. Most HR Teams Don’t Know What’s in Their UK Skills Levy Pot

Over 70% of HR and finance professionals couldn’t say how much Levy funding they had available—or even that a pot existed. It’s rarely discussed in strategic budget conversations and too often becomes what they called “invisible money.”

💬 “I think we pay into it, but I’ve no idea how much or how to use it.”

🧾 2. Many Have Written It Off Completely

For over half of the HR leaders we spoke to, the Levy has become background noise—something filed away as "too complicated" or "only for apprenticeships." The perception is that it's too admin-heavy and not worth the effort.

💬 “It’s on the list, but we just haven’t had time to deal with it.”

🎓 3. No Central Access Point or Guidance

There’s no one-stop shop that shows all the accredited Levy-funded programmes available. Instead, HR teams must navigate a patchwork of providers and offers—often without clarity on quality or relevance.

💬 “Always a worry that we might not be getting the best quality training or provider.”

🗂️ 4. UK Skills Levy Funds Expire After 24 Months

A staggering 90% of HR leaders were unaware that Levy funds expire on a rolling 24-month basis. That means many organisations are unknowingly losing thousands every month simply by not accessing what's already theirs.

💬 “I had no idea we might have two years of Levy funds in our pot.”

🚨 5. They’re Not Aware of the Upcoming Changes to the Levy Usage

More than 80% of HR leaders didn’t know that from mid 2025, Levy funding will no longer be limited to apprenticeships & they'll soon be able to fully fund executive education and training for current employees.

💬 “This is a game-changing opportunity for us that I wasn’t aware of.”

🔎 The Strategic Opportunity for HR Leaders

With government discussions suggesting that 50% to 75% of Levy funds may soon be eligible for boosting the skills of current employees, HR leaders have a critical strategic window opening up.

Now is the time to:

• Audit your current Levy balance

• Align future skills needs with accredited programmes

• Partner with a trusted source to remove the admin burden

Forward-thinking HR leaders won’t just “spend” their Levy—they’ll use it as a strategic growth lever for building capability, driving engagement, and preparing their workforce for what’s next.