Business should continue to value apprenticeships to strengthen the future economy, says Sarah Thwaites, Financial Skills Partnership.
Figures released from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) show apprenticeships on the increase, with 442,700 courses beginning in the 2010/11 academic year. However, concerns abound, about the future of apprenticeships as businesses evaluate their training spend.
Sarah Thwaites, Deputy Chief Executive of Financial Skills Partnership, said, “The steady increase in the number of people beginning apprenticeships is encouraging, but worryingly, some businesses plan to reduce the number of apprentices they take on next year. If the number of available apprenticeships were to regress over the next year, the skills picture and the jobs market would be severely tarnished.
“In order for young people to continue to secure jobs in their chosen profession, there must be a wider range of courses, opportunities and career entry routes available from schools, colleges, universities, training providers and employers. This will address the changing landscape in further and higher education and take into account the different ways people are embarking on the career ladder.”
The Minister for Skills, John Hayes, has consistently championed apprenticeships and this upsurge in apprenticeships is nothing other than a huge step in the right direction.
I couldn’t agree with Sarah more – all businesses should see the true value of apprenticeship programmes and the role they will play to help our economic recovery.
University education is being heavily questioned and this increase shows the value of apprenticeships and how well they are meeting a need.
While of course there is more work to be done to tackle youth unemployment, we must change mind-sets so that young people and employers do not see apprenticeships as second best to degree qualifications.
Apprenticeships do not just deliver craft skills, they also offer a pathway to the highest levels of the professions. More businesses need to follow suit and invest in apprentices.