Commenting on the Apprenticeship statistics released today by the
Department of Education, Jane Gratton, Head of Skills at the
British Chambers of Commerce said:
“Since the introduction of the apprenticeship reforms, the
statistics have shown a marked decline in the number of
apprenticeship starts and, sadly, the latest numbers are no
different.
“Businesses are crying out for skilled workers to fill job
vacancies and apprenticeships should be very much part of the
solution, but the system just isn’t working. For SMEs in
particular, the new rules have added to the barriers, complexity
and cost of recruiting and training staff. For larger firms, the
inflexibility of the system has made it difficult to spend their
levy funds as they see best, making it feel more like a tax, and
leaving less money available to pay for the training people need.
Businesses want to invest more in upskilling their workforce, and
to offer great career opportunities for young people, but this
system is holding everyone back.
“There is consensus across the UK business community that the
Levy needs reform, yet our calls continue to go unanswered. We
are not asking for a complete overhaul - everyone wants this
system to work better. Each month the number of apprenticeships
is falling, so now has to be the time for government to work with
business and training providers to sort things out.”
