The Sutton Trust response to Gavin Williamson's speech on post-school education

“Further education and apprenticeships have a crucial role to play in widening opportunity. Apprenticeships in particular have a key role to play in improving social mobility which will be especially important as we come out of the pandemic. Our research has shown that the coronavirus crisis has already had a devastating impact on apprentices, with 61% being made redundant or furloughed, or unable to access their learning. The Chancellor’s announcements yesterday were welcome; the sector requires serious investment to enable young people to receive the training and progression they deserve.

“We would also like to see many more degree and degree-level apprenticeships available to young people. They offer a powerful combination of on the job learning and academic work, enabling young people to earn while they learn, graduate with little or no debt and with the skills the marketplace wants. These are the bedrock of the German apprenticeship system which the Secretary of State aspires to.”