A £725m package of reforms to the apprenticeship system will help to tackle youth unemployment and drive economic growth, according to the government.
The funding includes £140m for a pilot scheme which will allow mayors to connect young people – especially those not in education, employment or training (NEET) – with thousands of apprenticeships at local employers across various sectors, including construction.
As announced in the autumn budget, the government will also cover the full cost of apprenticeships for eligible young people under 25 at small and medium-sized businesses.
The reforms to the Growth and Skills Levy reflect the prime minister Keir Starmer’s ambition for two-thirds of young people to participate in higher-level learning, including academic, technical or apprenticeships.
Starmer said: “For too long, success has been measured by how many young people go to university. That narrow view has held back opportunity and created barriers we need to break.
“If you choose an apprenticeship, you should have the same respect and opportunity as everyone else. That’s why the government is investing £1.5bn through the Youth Guarantee and the Growth and Skills Levy – creating 50,000 more apprenticeships and foundation apprenticeships for young people over the next three years.
“It’s time to change the way apprenticeships are viewed and to put them on an equal footing with university.”
Commenting on the announcement, Andy Rayner, director of skills and apprenticeships at builders’ merchant Travis Perkins, said the expansion of the government’s apprenticeship scheme is “significant” for the construction industry.
“Our industry needs more people coming through and these measures will make it easier for both learners and employers to commit to apprenticeship routes.
“At Travis Perkins we see every day how high-quality training helps young people thrive. This investment will help bring more talent into the sector and give thousands a real opportunity to build a future in the trades.”
Proposed apprenticeship reforms
In recent months, proposed apprenticeship reforms have been criticised by a coalition of construction industry leaders.
According to an open letter, supported by more than 20 signatories, proposals from Skills England, which include shortening the minimum duration of an apprenticeship to eight months, would “spell disaster” for the construction industry.
Speaking to CM People in November, Helen Hewitt, CEO of the British Woodworking Federation (BWF), who has led the coalition’s response to the proposals, slammed the government’s lack of engagement with construction employers.
“[Government ministers are] telling themselves they’re employer-led and listening to industry, but they’re not engaging with experts – less so now than they ever have done,” she said.
