Council, educators and employers call for urgent reforms to apprenticeships

Leader of The Royal Borough of Greenwich Council, Cllr Anthony Okereke, Cabinet Member for Inclusive Economy, Business and Skills, Cllr Mariam Lolavar and Clive Efford MP, sent a letter to the Minister for Skills, Apprenticeships, and Higher Education, Rt Hon Robert Halfon MP, during National Apprenticeship Week, calling for changes to be made.

The letter was written following a crosssector apprenticeship roundtable meeting with leading representatives from education and skills organisations. It highlights the key issues with the system and sets out six policy reforms the programme needs to succeed.

Cllr Mariam Lolavar said: “Apprenticeships are one of the most effective ways of boosting social mobility and creating an inclusive economy, where everyone has the opportunity to secure a good job. Not least, young people who are not currently in education, employment or training, among whom we have seen a sharp decline in apprenticeships starts. “Strategic action is needed to help young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to overcome the financial barriers to accessing and remaining in apprenticeships, such as low levels of pay. Crucially, the system also needs to offer greater flexibility to businesses, particularly in how funding is used.”

Since 2017, the number of young people starting apprenticeships has dropped significantly - by a staggering 85 per cent across councils, a survey by London Councils shows - and many businesses in Royal Greenwich are expecting to return up to 50 per cent of their unspent levy funds to the Treasury. This does not reflect the high demand there is for apprenticeships, showing that there is a misalignment between the resources available and the need from young learners, the letter states.

The roundtable discussion was held by the Royal Borough of Greenwich, London South East Colleges and Visit Greenwich.

Chair of the roundtable, Dr Sam Parrett CBE, Group Chair and CEO of London South East Colleges, said: “As a Further and Higher Education college, we know how important high-quality apprenticeships are, and the huge benefits they provide to apprentices, employers and the local and regional economy.

“Working collaboratively with business leaders and Local Authorities is essential here, enabling us all to ensure the right skills are being delivered to meet the current and future need of industry.”

The recommendations are:

1. Make the apprenticeship levy system more flexible.

2. Establish new funding rules for priority groups.

3. Promote equitable access.

4. Protect child benefit payments for families of young people starting an apprenticeship.

5. Provide targeted funding for pre-apprenticeship training.

6. Reinstate incentives to SMEs looking to take on apprentices.