A new era of apprenticeships: what’s next?

By: Lindsay Plumpton

Communications Leader

Thursday 11 October 2012

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As youth unemployment rates remain high, the need to equip young people with the skills to secure a job in today’s competitive labour market becomes increasingly important. One of the main routes for helping young people to gain these skills is via apprenticeships; allowing learners to gain real workplace experience and a solid skillset in a specialist area while at the same time achieving a nationally recognised qualification and a direct pathway into employment.

There’s no doubt that apprenticeships are still high on the news agenda. But what’s next?

Ed Miliband dedicated much of his recent speech to the importance of vocational training and apprenticeships. What’s more, Doug Richard is due to present his report on apprenticeships in the next few weeks, laying out a strategy for future development, focusing on issues such as school engagement.

AELP have recently been vocal on this issue, stating that we should be more ambitious about apprenticeship growth, aspiring “to the creation of 2m apprenticeships”. Their proposals include an extensive information programme for schools with at least one teacher per secondary school undertaking work experience with an apprenticeship provider, clear careers guidance for students and the use of output related funding to overcome weaknesses such as low levels of literacy and numeracy.

What do you think about AELP’s proposals? Are apprenticeships the future? And if so, what do we need to do to improve their status in schools and beyond?

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Authors

Lindsay Plumpton

Communications Leader
96 posts
David Grailey

Chief Executive
79 posts
Andrew Gladstone-Heighton

Policy Leader
75 posts
Esme Winch

Managing Director
35 posts
Michael Lemin

Policy and Research Manager
25 posts

Schools

Colleges

Training Providers

Employers

Learners

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