Richard Beene

Skills and Apprenticeships for the Built Environment Richard Beene, NAS

Apprenticeships are Union Business Seminar 13 June 2012

A tentative view of performance • Having peaked in 2006-2008, and rallied from a recent low in 2009/10, starts are once again down (more than 10%).

• Construction a little more adversely affected than Built Environment.

• Most hit are Advanced Apprenticeships (all age groups) but all broad categories of age and level down.

• All regions down, bar London albeit on a small base, but generally harder hit in the North.

• All sizes of business hit.

• Mixed view from providers, but generally where we see increases its either apparently new provision or from a low base.

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Skills and Apprenticeships

13 June 2012

Emerging Key Challenges • International, national and local economic situation (a little above my pay-grade!)

• But therefore lack of confidence in committing to 1-3 years employment, especially as not feasible to foresee orderbook/projects over the period • Difficulties in meeting procurement conditions ie local recruitment of apprentice for 9 month project against minimum 1 year commitment.

• Restrictions by age that make progression difficult into Advanced at full funding • Recruitment typically highly weighted to late Summer/early Autumn anyway – hard to effect in-year impact.

• Concerns over quality of candidates.

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Skills and Apprenticeships

13 June 2012

Some Thoughts and Actions • Ministerial interest – forum in June with employers • Agree sectoral view of challenges and ideas for solutions – openminded on flexibility or tailored packages (Note: CSkills research may be useful) • Agree better and more routine data-sharing on Apprenticeships • Improve understanding of sector in relation to procurement conditions • Design of delivery – age restrictions, partnerships • Risk sharing – ATAs/Shared Apprenticeship Scheme etc • AGE grants will now be deliverable through recognised ATAs • Other Items - Skillbuild/The Skills Show; Higher Apprenticeships; Jason Holt SME Review; Pilot Funding; Advanced Learning Loans

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Skills and Apprenticeships

13 June 2012

Thank you.