Government reforms risk undermining the credibility and breadth of apprenticeships, says the CIPD

In response to the government’s announcement on training and skills reforms today, Lizzie Crowley, senior skills adviser at the CIPD, the professional body for HR and people development, said:

“The government’s announcement of 120,000 new training opportunities for young people is welcome recognition of the urgent need to address persistently high levels of youth unemployment, economic inactivity, and technical skills shortages. However, a more ambitious approach is needed to genuinely expand opportunities and rebalance the system in favour of young people, including an apprenticeship guarantee for all 16-24 years olds. 

“The decision to restrict government funding for all Level 7 apprenticeships to those aged 16 to 21 is unlikely to meaningfully boost youth participation given that fewer than one in 10 apprentices who train at this level fall within this age bracket.  While the aim of rebalancing the system towards young people is important, this blunt approach risks undermining the breadth and ambition of the apprenticeship offer. We have previously argued for a more nuanced approach to managing the cost of delivering higher-level apprenticeships, for instance via reduced subsidies for older apprentices. 

“New foundation apprenticeships are also set to be introduced for those aged 16 to 21. These are expected to launch this August following a government decision to lower the minimum duration of apprenticeships from 12 months to eight. Expanding opportunities is vital but shortening programmes risks damaging the reputation and long-term credibility of apprenticeships. England already offers some of the shortest apprenticeships internationally, in contrast to the two-year norm in many countries. 

“To genuinely increase apprenticeship opportunities for young people, we are calling for an apprenticeship guarantee for all 16- to 24-year-olds, supported by enhanced financial incentives for SMEs. Our research shows overwhelming employer support for this — 89% back such a guarantee, and 60% say they could offer an additional apprenticeship for someone in this age group under this model.”