Apprenticeships in
England
April 2014
Geoff Fieldsend
geoff.fieldsend@blueyonder.co.uk
All images © Mat Wright
Skills and training are devolved policy areas.
This presentation focuses on
England only
 UK population: 63m
 UK working population: 32.5m
 UK population 15-19: 4m
 England population: 53m
www.britishcouncil.org
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Apprenticeships have evolved over centuries
 Employer owned, largely male, largely ‘blue collar, largely young
and involving time serving and indentured employment until the
1980s…
 …when economic circumstances led to mass youth unemployment
and the introduction of the Youth Training Scheme (YTS)
 In the nineties the government tried to reintroduce apprenticeships
by ’rebranding’ higher level YTS as modern apprenticeships and
removed the need for time serving…
 This rebranding continued through so many manifestations…
 …that eventually a review was held to get back to the original
features that (still) meant apprenticeships were held in high
esteem and led to rewarding working lives
www.britishcouncil.org
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The current state of play
In 2012/13:
 510,000 apprenticeship starts
 10,000 less than the number of starts in the 2011/12
academic year; but
 231,000 more than in the 2009/10 academic year
 45% are aged over 25
 compared with 18% in 2009/10
 The majority of apprenticeships are in the service sectors (eg
business administration and retail)
 55% are female
www.britishcouncil.org
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A three way deal
Apprenticeships are paid jobs that
incorporate on and off the job training.
The Government funds all or
part of the off-the-job training
A successful apprentice will qualify with a
nationally recognised qualification on
completion of their contract.
The government pays a proportion of the
training costs depending on age.
 The Employer provides a
paid job, with training and
support for the employee
 The Individual works, often
for a reduced wage (minimum
of £2.68 per hour) for the
duration of the Apprenticeship
 100% of the training costs if the
apprentice is aged 16-18
 50% of the training costs if the
apprentice is aged 19-24
 Up to 50% of the training costs if
the apprentice is aged over 25
The employer will normally cover any
remaining training costs
Apprentices receive below the minimum
wage if they are under 21
www.britishcouncil.org
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Until 2010, England’s was a unique programme with relatively low levels
of penetration compared to overseas countries
Australia
Austria
England
France
Germany
Ireland
Switzerland
39
33
11
17
40
11
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English model:
Minority initial vocational training route
All age - high number of employed adults
State funding goes through providers,
employers pay apprentices
Available in 250 occupations
Developers define components (in line with
legal quality requirements)
Skills Funding Agency contracts with
registered providers
Assessment,
matching,
inspection,
certification roles split between a range of
bodies
German model:
Main initial vocational training route
Two thirds of apprentices under 25
Employers pay apprentices (wages – lower)
and membership fee to Chambers (funds
exams); regions fund vocational schools.
Incentives paid direct to employers
Available in 348 occupations – focused on
learning (not qualifications)
Social
partnerships
define
content,
assessment, wage levels, and delivery (in line
with legislation)
Employers/employer bodies responsible for
assessment, matching, contracts, inspection
Australia, England and France all offer apprenticeships at more than one level of skill. Of these, England
is the only country where apprenticeships at Level 2 far outnumber those at Level 3. In Australia, most
apprenticeships are at Certificate 3 level and in France just under half are at Level 2. In Austria, Germany
and Switzerland (dual system countries), as well as in Ireland, almost all apprenticeships are at Level 3.
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The recent expansion of numbers reflects has been a considerable shift in
the profile of learners by age, level and sector
i) Apprenticeship starts by age
500,000
 But as a result did the
term ‘apprenticeships’
start to lose its meaning
and some of its lustre?
450,000
400,000
350,000
300,000
25+
19-24
16-18
250,000
200,000
150,000
100,000
50,000
0
2002/03
2003/04
2004/05
2005/06
2006/07
2007/08
2008/09
2009/10
2010/11
(Provisional)
ii) Apprenticeship starts by level and age
iii) Apprenticeship starts by subject / sector
120,000
140,000
Business, Admin / Law
100,000
120,000
80,000
Retail
100,000
Health, Public Services
and Care
80,000
Level 2 16-18
Level 2 19-24
Level 2 25+
Level 3 16-18
Level 3 19-24
Level 3 25+
60,000
40,000
60,000
Engineering and
Manufacturing
40,000
20,000
Construction
20,000
0
2002/03
2003/04
2004/05
2005/06
2006/07
2007/08
2008/09
2009/10
2010/11
(Provisional)
0
2002/03
2003/04
2004/05
2005/06
2006/07
2007/08
2008/09
2009/10
2010/11
(Provisional)
Source: BIS Statistical First Release
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Apprenticeship Growth
For internal British Council use
Source: The Economist
www.britishcouncil.org
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The Richard Review (2010) recommendations
 Apprenticeships should only refer to workers starting a new job
 Each apprenticeship should:
 Comprise one graded qualification for each occupation
 Be based on simpler standards
 Be based largely on assessment at the end of the training
period
 And involve an independent test
 The relevant qualification should be based on an employer
competition
 All apprentices must reach level 2 in Maths and English
 Funding should be routed via the employer ideally through the
tax system
 There should also be a new entry programme to employment
Building on success…
 Government’s planned investment in 2013‐14 is over £1.5bn.
 Over 850,000 Apprenticeship participants in 2012/13.
 Over 220,000 workplaces employ an apprentice.
 Advanced Level apprentices earn between £77,000 and £117,000 more
over their lifetime than those with lower level qualifications; this rises to
£150,000 for those doing Higher Apprenticeships
 Employers: 70% report higher productivity and improved quality of
product/service
 Economy: National Audit Office Report estimates that adult
Apprenticeships deliver £18 of economic benefits for each £1 of
Government investment.
www.britishcouncil.org
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Whilst continuously improving….
 Standards designed by employers will replace existing Frameworks.
 New standards will be clear and concise (around one page A4).
 Typically two thirds of assessment will be at the end of the
Apprenticeship.
 All Apprenticeships will last a minimum of 12 months.
 Apprenticeships will be graded: Pass, Merit, Distinction
 Giving employers the buying power by routing funding through them
Trailblazer projects led by employers and will involve both large and
small businesses and professional bodies.
 The aim is that all new Apprenticeship starts from 2017/18 will be on
the new programme
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