The government has announced plans that will raise the standard and scope of apprenticeships.
The new draft Apprenticeships Bill has been designed to establish a statutory basis for the entire apprenticeships programme, setting out the relationship between different parts of the system and redefining the ‘blueprint’ that outlines what apprenticeships should contain.
The legislation will also ensure that schools provide sufficient advice so that young people are properly informed about apprenticeships as a career choice.
The last decade has seen a doubling of the number of young people and adults starting apprenticeships.
However, the government said it recognised the need to raise further the quantity and quality of apprenticeships available.
It is anticipated that around one in five of all young people will be taking up an apprenticeship in the next decade, and the Bill is looking to make apprenticeships a mainstream learning option alongside going to college or university.
Among its key measures, the new Bill will ensure that there are enough places available so that all suitably qualified young people can join an apprenticeship from 2013.
The new National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) will act as a one-stop shop for employers, making it easier for them to offer apprenticeships.
The NAS will bring together a wide range of services and operations, linking potential apprentices with potential employers. This will allow employers to advertise apprenticeship vacancies through a national portal, and will help people interested in apprenticeships to understand the diversity of opportunities that exist, and, where appropriate, to apply for an apprenticeship online.
David Lammy, the Skills Minister, 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.”
Mr Lammy added: “Apprenticeships are valued across Britain as a means of providing employers with a well-trained workforce which helps their business succeed. 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.”
Business groups broadly welcomed the Bill.
David Frost, director general of the British Chambers of Commerce, said: “Apprenticeships are an essential part of creating the highly skilled and capable workforce our economy demands. The proposals will have the backing of the business community who all too often struggle to recruit suitable and willing employees.”
But Mr Frost said that small firms needed extra help to make the most of the apprenticeship system: “If this is to be a success, the Government needs to ensure that all firms are engaged and supported when providing apprenticeships. Whilst large companies have more resource to facilitate these schemes, smaller companies are often less able.”
Andrew Smith, education and skills adviser at the EEF, commented: “The strong performance of UK manufacturing over the last few years, combined with the move to higher value products and manufacturing techniques, has raised the demand for high skilled labour.
“The focus on apprenticeships as a route of entry into highly skilled and highly paid careers, rather than as a route for those who have not succeeded academically, will be welcomed by manufacturers.”
In particular, the EEF applauded the emphasis on better careers advice and guidance for young people.
Mr Smith added: “Far too often the poor quality of careers advice available to young people means that they either lack information on or are dissuaded from considering an apprenticeship. We welcome the new duty for careers advice to include information about apprenticeships, and it is now essential that advisers are provided with resources and training about opportunities available across the economy, including engineering and manufacturing.”
Date:17 July 2008
|
