The British Retail Consortium, which represents major businesses across the UK, has criticised the government's latest plans for apprenticeships, which they say have failed to reform existing schemes in line with industry requests.
Government has announced a package of reforms to apprenticeships to unlock a "tidal wave of opportunity", including an additional £60m which its claims will enable up to 20,000 more apprenticeships for young people and small businesses. The announcements also included a new taskforce which the government says is designed to boost private investment in women-led businesses.
"Taken together, these measures will unlock a tidal wave of opportunity and make a real difference to businesses and entrepreneurs across the country," Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said on Monday.
But the reception from the business sector has been lukewarm, with frustration that the government had not gone further to reform existing apprenticeship rules to benefit larger businesses.
