Government announces new measures to assist employers with apprenticeships - 01-12-2011

Government announces new measures to assist employers with apprenticeships

As part of the Government’s plan for growth, it has announced that it is taking action to make it easier for businesses to take on apprentices and to ensure that the quality of apprenticeships is continually improved. 

The following measures have been announced:

• To encourage thousands of small businesses that don’t currently hire apprentices to take on a young apprentice aged 16 to 24. The Government will offer employers, with up to 50 employees, an incentive payment of up to £1,500. This will support up to 20,000 new apprenticeships in 2012/13. An initial payment will be made two months after the individual has started their apprenticeship and the balance will be paid after the apprenticeship has been completed and the trainee has progressed into sustainable employment.

• Processes will be simplified to make it quicker and easier for employers to take on an apprentice. The National Apprenticeships Service and training providers will be required to ensure that every employer is in a position to advertise a vacancy within one month of deciding to take on an apprentice and health and safety requirements will be streamlined so that there are no additional demands on employers that already meet national standards.

• There will be a renewed focus on targeting the programme where apprenticeships deliver greatest value.

• Apprenticeship providers will be required to offer training in English and Maths up to the standard of a good GCSE (level 2) for all apprenticeships (currently, the large majority of Intermediate Level apprenticeships require achievement of English and Maths at a minimum of level 1, and although it is possible to study to a higher level this seldom happens in practice).

A new review into the standards and quality of apprenticeships will be undertaken by a leading employer. Reporting in Spring 2012, the review will help ensure Government works effectively with training providers and businesses to continually raise the standards of all apprenticeships, and that training keeps pace with the changing needs of industry.

Back in July 2011, the Prime Minister announced details of a £25m fund to support up to 10,000 Advanced Level and Higher apprenticeships. This new fund will support the expansion of apprenticeships up to degree equivalent in companies, particularly SMEs, where there is unmet demand for the higher level skills.

In addition, the Government has just announced a £250 million fund to enable employers to invest in vocational training and employers will be able to bid for a share of this in the New Year.

more news articles...

Top of page | Print this page