The 18-month qualification in business strategy and leadership, held over 10 training sessions, usually costs £14,000, with 95% of the price tag covered by the government.

From early 2025, however, the government has warned that it will cut funding for Level Seven apprenticeships, meaning a likely rise in prices.

Karly Lattimore, managing director of BPIF Training, told Printweek that although the BPIF hadn’t yet received details from the government on how that funding would be reduced, the print association had decided to act quickly to keep prices low for a new intake.

“They have said it will happen in early 2025, but that’s all we know,” she said.

“We’re just trying to get ahead of the game and support the industry, in case that funding does drop, and have put on an additional cohort for Level Seven.

“We’re expecting to have a Skills England paper, based on a late 2024 consultation, by late January or early February, which will have more details.”

Lattimore added that the programme was “highly sought-after”, given the 95% subsidy.

“We just want to give the industry an opportunity to take advantage of the [course] while it is only £700,” she said.

“We’ve only had one cohort [of the course] before, but all our candidates achieved a distinction.”

The course covers organisational strategy, risk and talent management, stakeholder engagement, and business ethics among other topics.