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UK Parliament

Apprenticeships inquiry launched

12 February 2016

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The Sub-Committee on Education, Skills and the Economy has launched an inquiry on apprenticeships.

Call for written evidence

The Sub-Committee welcomes submissions addressing some or all of the following points:

  • The target of three million apprentices by 2020, how the Government proposes to achieve this and how this may affect the 'skills gap'
  • The proposal for an apprenticeships levy and how this may be implemented
  • The institutional architecture of current provision and how this may be affected by the proposed Institute for Apprenticeships
  • Take-up of apprenticeships amongst 16–19 year olds and steps that can be taken to make more young people aware of available opportunities
  • The process of applying for apprenticeships
  • Routes for progression to higher qualifications for current apprentices
  • The quality of, and minimum standards for, apprenticeships, and how standards can be enforced
  • Lessons from other countries' approaches to apprenticeships

Send a written submission through the apprenticeships inquiry page

The deadline for written evidence is midday on Friday 18 March 2016.

Focus of the inquiry

This inquiry is set to look at issues such as the Government's target of three million apprentices by 2020, how the Government proposes to achieve this, and how this may affect the 'skills gap' in the UK. The sub-Committee is also likely to look at the apprenticeship levy, the proposed Institute for Apprenticeships, and routes to achieving higher level apprenticeship qualifications.

Committee comments

Neil Carmichael MP, Chair of the Education Select Committee, said:

"Our education policy needs to change truly to recognise the value of technical and professional education to young people, to society and to the nation's economy. Young people need to be equipped with the skills to succeed and apprenticeships have a vital role in achieving this objective. In this inquiry we will examine a variety of issues relating to apprenticeships, not least how do we boost the take-up of apprenticeships amongst 16–19 year olds and what is being done to ensure young people are aware of the opportunities available? Good quality apprenticeships offer a route to boosting our international competitiveness and there are sure to be lessons to learn from other countries' approaches to apprenticeships and technical qualifications"

Iain Wright MP, Chair of the Business Innovation and Skills Select Committee, said:

"Improving the quality of apprenticeships and driving up the numbers of young people earning technical qualifications has an important role to play in closing the skills gap and improving the nation's productivity. The Government has an ambitious target of hitting 3 million apprenticeship starts and as a Committee we want to examine how they are going to hit that target. For example, what impact will the key policies in that area, such as the apprenticeship levy, have on increasing the numbers of people getting onto (and finishing) apprenticeship training? There's been a lot of uncertainty about how the apprenticeship system is going to work and we will want to press the Government on how they are going to ensure businesses, colleges, and students have confidence in the system in the future."

Further information

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