Reform UK has unveiled a new economic policy proposal designed to stimulate vocational training by offering tax rebates to firms that expand their apprenticeship programs. The party suggests that by reducing the tax burden on businesses that invest in on-the-job training, the UK can better address skills shortages and provide viable alternatives to traditional higher education.

Alongside the policy announcement, Suella Braverman, a prominent figure within the party, offered a sharp critique of the higher education sector. She characterized the current university model as a "great university scam," advising students to be wary of the financial costs associated with degrees that may not offer sufficient career returns. This rhetoric aligns with the party's broader push to shift the national focus away from university attendance and toward vocational and trade-based career paths.

The proposal has drawn attention for its dual approach: using financial incentives to reshape business hiring practices while simultaneously challenging the cultural and economic dominance of the university system. While the party frames this as a necessary correction to the labor market, critics of the proposal argue that it may undermine the value of academic education. The BBC reports these developments as part of the party's ongoing efforts to differentiate its economic platform from the established policies of the major political parties, though the specific mechanics of how these tax rebates would be funded or implemented remain under discussion.