Apprenticeships; will they encourage the economy?
In October 2013 the Government announced its intention to reform Apprenticeships, in an effort to drive more employers to use them and encourage the economy. This is being done in phases and with each phase new sectors and employers are getting involved in developing new ‘standards’ for apprenticeships.
The first phase of ‘Trailblazers’, a group of 8 employers, resulted in standards for apprenticeships being published in March 2014 during National Apprenticeship Week.
Phase 2 involved a much wider group of leading large and small employers across 29 different sectors from Accountancy and Construction to Dental Services, Hospitality and Law.
Overall the Government’s stated aim is to make apprenticeships “more rigorous and responsive to the needs of employers”.
In August 2014, 40 new standards developed by Phase 2 Trailblazers were published, as well as some additional standards developed by Phase 1’s.
The Government is now seeking participants for Phase 3 and is asking groups of employers to become new Trailblazers, as well as the existing Trailblazers.
Part of the reforms involves funding, which at present is still routed from the Skills Funding Agency directly to training providers; but the intention long term is for employers to receive funding directly.
For more information about the reforms and the Trailblazers, you can click on this link
And for the Government’s information which is common to all Apprenticeships, go to: this link If you would like to discuss any employment law or contract issues then contact Julia Furley on 0207 388 1658 or by email: jfurley@jfhaw.co.uk.
If you find this article interesting, please like, comment and share it!
Please note that the information contained in this article was correct at the time of writing. There may have been updates to the law since the article was written, which may affect the information and advice given therein.
