Draft legislation to
create more high quality Apprenticeships fit for the 21st Century
DEPARTMENT FOR
INNOVATION, UNIVERSITIES AND SKILLS News Release (043/2008) issued
by The Government News Network on 16 July 2008
New measures to
ensure all apprenticeships are of a uniform high quality and have
the confidence of both apprentices and employers were announced
today by David Lammy and Jim Knight as the Government published
its draft Apprenticeships Bill.
The Bill, which for the first time will establish a statutory
basis for the entire apprenticeships programme, will set out
clearly the relationship between different parts of the
apprenticeship system and redefine the 'blueprint'
outlining what apprenticeships should contain. It will ensure
schools provide advice about apprenticeships where appropriate so
that young people are properly informed about apprenticeships as a
career choice.
Ten years ago, only 75,000 people started apprenticeships. Over
the past decade, the Government has more than doubled the number
of young people and adults starting high-quality apprenticeships,
with 184,000 starts last year. But the measures outlined today
underline the Government's recognition that it needs to go
further - and massively increase the number of apprenticeships
available to meet demand from young people.
The Government anticipates that around one in five of all young
people will be undertaking an apprenticeship in the next decade
and the draft Bill seeks to further establish apprenticeships as a
mainstream learning option alongside going to college or university.
Key measures in the draft Bill will:
* Ensure there are enough apprenticeship places available so that
all suitably qualified young people can take up their entitlement
of an apprenticeship place from 2013.
* Outline the role of the new National Apprenticeship Service
(NAS), which is being established to provide focused leadership
for the Apprenticeships programme, to act as a one-stop shop for
employers making it easier for them to offer apprenticeships.
* Under the NAS, bring together a wide range of services and
operations currently dispersed among a range of agencies,
operating a national apprenticeship vacancy matching service, to
link potential apprentices with potential employers. This will
enable employers to advertise apprenticeship vacancies through a
national portal, and will help young people and adults interested
in apprenticeships to understand the range and diversity of
opportunities that exist, and, where appropriate, to apply for an
apprenticeship online.
Skills Minister David Lammy said:
"This Bill now ensures that apprenticeships are a badge of
quality, without question. Apprenticeships have been going from
strength to strength, and over the past decade we have more than
doubled the number of young people and adults starting
apprenticeships. But we need to go further to ensure both the
number and quality of apprenticeships on offer.
"Apprenticeships are valued across Britain as a means of
providing employers with a well-trained workforce which helps
their business succeed. But more than that, apprenticeships are
about young people learning from older people, about handing
knowledge on to future generations. Apprenticeships contribute
significantly to businesses' bottom line. They tackle skills
shortages, contributing to increased productivity, and can help
businesses weather difficult economic times. Apprenticeships are
an intelligent way for businesses to invest in their future,
whatever the economic climate."
The Government has made a record amount of funding available for
the Apprenticeships programme, which is planned to increase by
almost a quarter between 2007-08 and 2010-11 to over £1 billion.
Three-quarters of this planned funding will be available for 16-18
year olds. Employers can take advantage of this funding by
offering apprenticeships to both young people and adults where the
Government pays the full cost of an apprentice's training.
Minister for Schools and Learners Jim Knight said:
"We can't get left behind in the global skills race and
must raise the number of young people in education and training.
That's why we are legislating through the Education and
Skills Bill to raise the participation age to 18 by 2015.
"Young people are being given more and better options than
ever before post-16 and an expanded apprenticeships programme will
be one of the key choices offered to them, alongside A levels and
our new Diplomas. We want to increase the number of 16-18
apprenticeships available by 2013 and to ensure that from then
every qualified school leaver is entitled to an apprenticeship place.
"We anticipate that around one in five of all young people
will be undertaking an apprenticeship in the next decade. In the
coming years, we want apprenticeships to be seen alongside
university as a great option for young people who want the best
jobs, the best careers and the best chance to get on - and we will
only do this if they have the confidence of both learners and employees."
Ongoing work to expand and strengthen apprenticeships includes
the Government making it easier for employers to improve the range
of apprenticeships by enabling them to include their own
accredited qualifications. The Government will soon introduce a
pilot wage subsidy programme for small businesses, to make it more
attractive for them to offer high quality apprenticeships.
Andy Smyth, accredited programmes manager, TUI UK and Ireland said:
"Apprenticeships have made a real impact on our business. On
average, our travel and tourism apprentices stay with the company
two years longer and contribute roughly 17 per cent more than
other employees in similar roles.
"We intend to build on this success across other areas of
our business and are looking to increase our Apprenticeship
programme by up to 50 per cent over the next year."
Jo Mackie, HR Director, Superdrug, said:
"Superdrug is a people business and our success depends on
the skills of our team members. They deserve the best training and
development possible and we are committed to putting in place
programmes like apprenticeships that will enable all colleagues to
have nationally recognized qualifications in key skills as well as
vocational retail beauty skills." Ministers want to expand
the number of public sector apprenticeships on offer and are
working with partner agencies to increase opportunities available.
The Armed Forces remains the single biggest organisation offering
apprenticeships (7,500 in 06/07), while 500 apprenticeships will
be available within the civil service from this autumn. New public
sector apprenticeships are also being developed, such as the new
teaching assistant apprenticeship.
Procurement is a key lever available to the public sector in
encouraging its suppliers to ensure they have appropriately
skilled staff in place. As apprenticeships are an excellent tool
for developing vocational skills in the workplace, the Government
will strongly encourage the companies it contracts with to employ apprentices.
Earlier this week, Skills Minister David Lammy launched the
London Taskforce to expand the numbers of apprenticeship places
offered by London employers as a means of addressing the low
numbers of apprentices in London.
NOTES TO EDITORS
1) The Government published the draft Apprenticeship Bill by
command paper and written ministerial statement. For further
details see http://www.dius.gov.uk. There
will be a twelve-week public consultation finishing on 8 October.
2) Government plans to improve the quality and expand the number
and range of apprenticeships available for young people were
outlined in World-class Apprenticeships, published in January
2008. http://www.dius.gov.uk/publications/world_class_apprenticeships.pdf
2) Demand from young people for apprenticeships is high, and the
best apprenticeship schemes are over-subscribed. In 2006, there
were 50,000 applications for construction industry apprenticeships
but only 9,000 places. (Lords Committee on Economic Affairs, The
Economic Impact of Immigration, p.30)
3) For case studies, photographs and video footage of finalists
and winners of the fifth annual Apprentice Awards, held by the
Learning & Skills Council on 10 July 2008, please contact Jane
Parsons on 020 3300 8928 or Hill & Knowlton on 020 7413 3767.
Young Apprentice of the Year: Luke Power, Sports Management,
London
Highly Commended: Rachel Freestone, Aerospace and
Engineering, Coventry, West Midlands
Highly Commended: Josh
Pickering, Retail, Dorset, South West
Apprentice of the Year:
Claire Harrison, Pharmaceuticals, Skipton, Yorkshire &
Humberside
Highly Commended: Sarah Abbott, Cookery,
Gloucestershire, South West
Highly Commended: David Khan,
Retail, Nottinghamshire, East Midlands
Advanced Apprentice of
the Year: Rachael Hoyle, Aerospace and Engineering, Preston, North
West
Highly Commended: Jacob Stimpson, Boat Building and
Maintenance, Plymouth, South West
Highly Commended: Gemma
Barrett, Hospitality, Mansfield, East Midlands
Personal
Achiever of the Year: Victoria Snook, Hair and Beauty, Preston,
North West
Highly Commended: Daisy Clark, Electrical, Cumbria,
North West
Highly Commended: Mark Brookes, Teaching/Sport,
Balsall Common, West Midlands