Secretary of State for Business Innovation and Skills Vince Cable has announced plans to boost accessibility for apprenticeship schemes and to incentivise firms taking on apprentices.
Dr Cable made the announcement along with Skills Minister John Hayes at a summit for business leaders in London saying that the government would slash the bureaucracy that can deter firms from recruiting apprentices, and provide a financial incentive of up to £1,500 to help the smallest firms recruit their first young apprentices.
Speaking about the Government's new commitment as part of its
plan for growth, Dr Cable said: 'Apprenticeships are proven to boost the life chances of young people, and are a sound investment in our future competitiveness. So when times are tough, it's right that we provide additional support to help the smallest firms meet training costs. We'll cut no corners on quality. Apprenticeships will remain the gold standard for excellence in vocational training - but where red tape serves no purpose, we'll strip it away.'
The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) has produced a detailed report entitled
Rethinking Apprenticeships on the future plans for apprenticeships.
The report was created by international experts, industry professionals and policymakers to set out a policy agenda for strengthening the role of apprenticeships in society and the economy focusing on the different types of government-funded apprenticeship programmes covering 16 to 18-year-olds, 19 to 24-year-olds and adults over 25.
EAL, the specialist awarding organisation for the engineering, manufacturing, building services and related sectors, is particularly keen to defend apprenticeships for over 25s. Ann Watson, managing director said: 'Rigorous, high-quality adult apprenticeships have a valuable place in industry, preparing and equipping new entrants - often people who have been made redundant from other sectors - to enter productive and fulfilling employment.
'Many of the preparatory skills that the IPPR report suggests Apprenticeships should offer to young people are equally as important to people entering the workplace after a period of unemployment - especially for those who are making a complete change in career. Of course, the report rightly raises the issue of protecting the apprenticeship 'brand' and maintaining the quality of provision but this should be equally as integral for all apprentices, no matter of age. And the report mentions Apprenticeships for older workers offer a poor return for Government, but the critical factor here is the return for UK industry, employers and the apprentices themselves.'
In the report, John Hayes MP calls 'for practical learning no longer to be seen as the poor relation of academic study, its inherent value must be acknowledged,' a point which is supported by the EAL.
The report shows that since apprenticeships were made available to adults in 2004 there has been a rise in the proportion of apprentices aged over 25. Under the Coalition this trend has become even more pronounced. Provisional figures for 2010/11 show an increase of 234 per cent compared to 2009/10 in apprenticeships for 25-year-olds, with more workers in their 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s taking up apprenticeships.
Ms Watson added: 'Apprenticeships are about providing a sustained and rigorous period of training and assessment - allowing people to develop high levels of specialist knowledge and technical skills. Apprenticeship funding needs to be routed correctly - so that as well as creating new jobs for young people, it is up-skilling adult workers and putting them on the path to achieving sustainable and fulfilling employment.'
A further review into the quality of apprenticeships will be undertaken with a report in spring 2012, to help ensure the highest standards in apprenticeships. Apprenticeship providers will also be required to offer training in English and Maths up to the standard of a good GCSE (level 2) for all apprenticeships.
