A new report underscores the urgent need to realign UK apprenticeships with the needs of young people.
- Employers show overwhelming support for prioritising apprenticeships for the younger demographic.
- The current Apprenticeship Levy is reportedly misaligned, detracting from its intended goals.
- The report advocates for a flexible skills levy focused heavily on youth engagement.
- Recommendations include establishing an Apprenticeship Guarantee and reforming sector strategies.
A recent analysis reveals critical insights into the UK’s apprenticeship system, spotlighting a need for significant changes to better serve young people. The report, a collaboration between the CIPD and Youth Futures Foundation, showcases a strong employer consensus on the importance of making apprenticeships primarily beneficial for young entrants to the workforce.
According to the report, over 60% of surveyed employers believe apprenticeships should focus on integrating young individuals into work environments. However, the existing Apprenticeship Levy is depicted as counterproductive, with 54% of businesses adapting current training programs into apprenticeships to reclaim levy funds, rather than fostering new opportunities for the youth.
The survey highlights troubling statistics, such as a 41% reduction in apprenticeship initiation for individuals under 19, and a 36% decrease for those aged 19-24, since the policy’s implementation in 2017. Such figures indicate the policy’s failure to stimulate sufficient employer investment in skills, as initially intended.
A significant concern is the substantial decline in participation from youths in the most disadvantaged areas, with figures plummeting from 250,000 to 150,000 participants. This suggests the levy may inadvertently perpetuate inequality rather than alleviating it.
To counter these issues, the report proposes comprehensive policy reforms. Key recommendations include implementing an Apprenticeship Guarantee to ensure access to Level 2 or 3 apprenticeships for every young person meeting the criteria, and redefining the levy to allocate at least 50% of funds for youth apprenticeships. The creation of pre-apprenticeship programs and strengthened sector partnerships are also crucial to address industry-specific skills challenges effectively.
Peter Cheese from the CIPD emphasised that “young people most need and benefit from apprenticeships”, and that restoring this pathway is critical for enhancing social mobility. Barry Fletcher from the Youth Futures Foundation added that apprenticeships are crucial internationally for youth employment, calling for policies that put young people at the centre of strategic developments.
The evidence strongly argues for policy shifts towards a youth-focused apprenticeship framework to reclaim its intended societal benefits.
