Traineeship funding consultation emphasises outcomes for young people
20 Jun 2014 11:45 AM
A consultation on the
future funding of traineeships has been launched by Skills and Enterprise
Minister Matthew Hancock.
Consultation on
traineeships: funding reform in England.
Traineeships are currently
funded using the same arrangements as further education rather than a bespoke
approach. The consultation proposes funding training providers on the basis of
trainees’ progression to apprenticeships, jobs or further learning.
Changes would be intended to encourage better results for young people and
achieve a more consistent experience for 16 to 24 year olds on the
programme.
Matthew Hancock
said:
Traineeships are at the heart of
the government’s drive to tackle youth unemployment. The number of
traineeships is growing fast.
This consultation will test
whether a funding approach designed specifically for traineeships, rather than
based on existing arrangements, could produce better results for young people.
We also want to make the experience more consistent, regardless of which
department is responsible for funding.
The consultation is now open and
the results will be announced in autumn 2014. The changes would take effect at
the beginning of the 2015 to 2016 academic year.
It builds on recent changes the
government has already announced and on early feedback from training providers,
employers and trainees themselves. From March 2014 young people on benefits
have been able to study for more than 16 hours per week on a traineeship. From
August 2014, 24 year olds will be funded for the first time to undertake
traineeships and providers will be given greater flexibility to arrange work
placements.
Notes to
Editors
-
The consultation is available
at Traineeships:
funding reform in England.
-
For more information on
traineeships, visit the National
Apprenticeship Service website.