When apprenticeships rear their head in the news, and indeed during big political and fiscal events, you often hear two assertions: first, that apprenticeships lead to great career outcomes and we should have more of them; and second, that the apprenticeship levy’s training rules are too restrictive and should be loosened to allow employers to train their staff in the most productive way possible.
There is certainly evidence to support the first point, with study after study showing that apprenticeships often improve employment and pay outcomes, especially among young people.[1] And in fairness, the second point has its merits, too: the apprenticeship model of training does not fit for all firms, and in many cases, money put into the levy could have been used on training that better suits their needs.
