Following an announcement by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Rt Hon Pat McFadden MP, the British Cleaning Council has issued the following statement.
David Garcia, Chair of the British Cleaning Council, which represents the £72bn cleaning, hygiene and waste sector, said: “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 and 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 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 and hygiene apprenticeship to invest those funds in.
“We are working with organisations across the sector to actively explore options to challenge this decision.”