Source · Select Committees · Education Committee
Recommendation 38
38
Accepted
Paragraph: 155
Prioritisation of older workers for apprenticeships limits opportunities for young people
Conclusion
The 19% increase in apprenticeship starts among under-19s between 2020/21 and 2021/22 is a positive step forward. However, all too often older, more highly qualified workers are being prioritised for apprenticeships at the expense of young people trying to get their foot on the first rung of the careers ladder. For apprenticeships to play their full part in the ladder of opportunity, they need to reach both groups.
Government response summary AI-generated
The government accepted the importance of apprenticeships for young people and detailed several ongoing and new initiatives to increase their access. These include the £3.2m Apprenticeship Support and Knowledge (ASK) programme, a Career Starter Apprenticeships campaign, allowing students to apply for apprenticeships alongside degrees from 2024, removing limits for SME apprentices, and increasing the care leavers bursary from £1,000 to £3,000.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Paragraph Reference:
155
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government · verbatim extract
Accepted
The Government shares the Committee’s view on the value of apprenticeships as a high-quality career pathway for young people. In the 2021/22 academic year, 53% of apprenticeship starts were by those under 25. We want to support more young people to start and achieve apprenticeships which offer good earnings potential and career progression. The Government is raising awareness of apprenticeships and making it easier for young people to find and secure the right option for them. We continue to promote apprenticeships in schools and colleges through our Apprenticeship Support and Knowledge (ASK) programme, engaging with over 2,500 schools and FE colleges and reaching over 685,000 students and 58,000 parents last academic year. Our Career Starter Apprenticeships campaign highlights Level 2 and Level 3 apprenticeships. The Apprenticeship Ambassador Network continues to inspire future apprentices. Changes to allow individuals to search and apply for apprenticeships on UCAS will support parity of esteem between vocational and academic routes; from this autumn, UCAS will expand its service to include apprenticeships, and from 2024, students can apply for apprenticeships alongside degrees. Although Government has no plans at present to reform the apprenticeship levy, we keep all policies under review and continue to encourage more apprenticeship opportunities for young people. We have recently removed the limit on the number of apprentices that small and medium-sized employers can take on, as they are more likely to employ younger apprentices and those from disadvantaged areas. We provide financial assistance, including £1,000 payments to employers taking on 16- to 18-year-olds and increasing the care leavers bursary from £1,000 to £3,000 from August. We also continue to make it easier for employers by improving systems and removing unnecessary bureaucracy.
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