[ Focus: Apprenticeship policy ]


Flying the flag for apprenticeships


As the government finalises its major overhaul of apprenticeships in England, we preview the forthcoming policy changes and explore why the stakes are high when it comes to the future of the industry’s apprenticeships


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t’s been a very active period recently in the apprenticeship debate. But what many might not know is that the apprenticeship proposition in England – as distinct from the rest of the UK – has set off on a fairly radical journey. When


it reaches its destination, sometime in the next 12 months or so, we are likely to see some of the most far-reaching changes to apprenticeship policy in 20 years. Apprenticeships are of intrinsic value to the UK‘s skills and industrial infrastructure, but the complexity of ensuring that every apprenticeship provides good value for the public purse –while being fit for purpose for employers and learners – is an enormous challenge, not least because of the diverse needs of various industries. Successive governments have tinkered with aspects of the apprenticeship model over the past two decades, but the current review looks set to redesign the way they are accessed and delivered. A key aim is to put the trust of employers at the centre of apprenticeships in England.


Full scale review The coalition government inherited a position of rapid apprenticeship growth, aimed at enhanced return on apprentice investment. But last year’s announcement of half a million new apprenticeship starts came amid growing concerns about poorly designed commercial programmes that were essentially exploiting young people and employers – with many of these new ‘apprenticeships’ lacking the necessary outcomes and quality control to underpin them. The present government, in turning its attention to apprenticeships, has revisited standards, in


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The ECA has frequently campaigned for better financial incentives for employers


order to give apprenticeships future stability. Government’s approach has been to scope out


apprentice training in England via three in-depth national reports. Professor Alison Wolf reviewed vocational training provision and quality in 2011, followed by Jason Holt’s recommendations for making apprenticeships more accessible to SMEs. In the light of these analyses, government sent businessman Doug Richard to speak to employers and their representatives, setting out their views and requirements. His report, the Richard Review of Apprenticeships, published in 2012, now forms the basis for forthcoming changes to be introduced by the government.


ECA engagement Recognising the conflicting interests to be balanced in apprenticeship decision-making, the ECA has been working alongside government to shape the direction that English apprenticeships should take. As well as formal responses to each of the reviews, the ECA developed a joint position statement with the UK Contractors’ Group (UKCG) to say to government that construction


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