Apprenticeships
Apprenticeships
What are Apprenticeships?
Apprenticeships are a form of vocational learning which combines mostly work-based learning with some off-the-job learning. On the job apprentices work alongside other staff; off the job they attend a local learning provider, usually on a day release basis, working towards nationally recognised qualifications.
Over 180 different Apprenticeships are on offer across 80 sectors of business and industry. In England, the Learning and Skills Council provides financial support for two levels of Apprenticeship:
• Apprenticeship: apprentices work towards a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) at Level 2, key skills qualifications and in most cases a relevant technical certificate.
• Advanced Apprenticeship: advanced apprentices work towards an NVQ at Level 3, key skills qualifications and in most cases a relevant technical certificate.
Apprenticeships are increasingly regarded as a high-quality post-16 learning option. Successful completion rates are now running at over 63%, which puts them on a par with almost any other country in Europe, and they continue to improve. An increasing number of young people, many with good GCSE results in their pocket, are making a positive choice to opt for an Apprenticeship, knowing that it immediately offers them a job, pay and good career prospects.
ALP Policy
The Government wants to see 500,000 apprentices in training across the UK each year by 2020 (400,000 in England). Currently there are just over 250,000 apprentices, most of who are aged between 16 and 19. The Government has promised to increase provision for adult apprentices.
ALP members deliver the majority of Apprenticeships in England and they are pleased to see the scale of the Government’s commitment. Major challenges need to be overcome if the 2020 targets are to be achieved, including increasing the number of employers willing to offer Apprenticeship places. As part of a DIUS review of the programme in early 2008, ALP made the following points:
• Within the new 14-19 curriculum, completion of an Apprenticeship should count as a ‘Diploma Plus’ with a clear progression route to a foundation degree or other higher education.
• The proposed Foundation Learning Tier needs to be redesigned to improve the chances of young people with few or no qualifications progressing on to an Apprenticeship.
• The new National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) should concentrate its marketing efforts on parents and teachers, letting learning providers to focus on engaging with employers.
• The new funding system for Apprenticeships under the NAS and local authorities must be responsive and flexible to real-time employer demand within a financial year.
• Every apprentice should have employed status from the start of training. Programme-led Pathways should not be called Programme-led Apprenticeships when no employment is on offer.
• ALP welcomes the plans for nationally consistent completion certificates and the continued role of SSCs in developing suitable frameworks for their sectors.
Links:
ALP response to ‘World-class Apprenticeships: Unlocking Talent, Building Skills for All’
ALP proposals on the Development of Apprenticeship (September 2007)
ALP press releases on Apprenticeships