We know that apprenticeships are great for learners of all ages and all levels. There is also significant demand from employers for apprentices, so supporting them to be able to employ apprentices must be at the heart of any strategy to deal with the country’s skills shortages.
It is without question that the most effective way to do this is to ensure much more is done to allow young people, entry-level learners, and small and medium sized employers (SMEs) to access apprenticeships more easily.
SMEs face significant barriers to accessing the apprenticeship system, but they are the businesses which historically have supported the majority of apprenticeships. Large employers unquestionably play their part, but the system needs to work for employers of all sizes, apprentices themselves and the wider economy.
That is why measures to increase employer demand should focus on three main areas – protecting the Apprenticeship Levy, more targeted support for SMEs, and simplifying the system to reduce bureaucracy.
