There is increasing evidence that the apprentice minimum wage is acting as a barrier to the qualifications acting as powerful engine of social mobility they can be. With the success and growth of apprenticeships in recent years, this raises important questions.
Apprenticeships and technical education play a special role in our education system, often offering a second chance, a route back into training or retraining to get back into employment. Given they are a critical rung on the ‘ladder of opportunity’ (in Rob Halfon’s words), we need to take this evidence seriously, avoiding the sort of social media outrage that accompanied Jonathan Gullis, MP’s advertisement for an apprentice communications officer.
Twitter thundered its indignation at a salary of £12,285 a year and yes, it feels very low, especially as the median average income in Stoke-on-Trent where the role is based is about £24,000. However, the apprentice minimum wage of £4.81 per hour means Gullis is actually paying about £4,000 a year more than required.
