Minimum English and maths entry requirements for the majority of
intermediate and advanced apprenticeships are preventing many
young people, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds,
from accessing apprenticeships.
This is revealed in new research by the National
Foundation for Educational Research (NFER), which calls on the
Government to provide financial incentives for training providers
and employers to encourage them to take on young people without
grade 4 or above in GCSE English and maths (or the equivalent)
and support them to achieve this level. The report says such
incentives would reflect the higher costs and potential risks
associated with taking on these apprentices.
Significant reforms have been introduced to the apprenticeship
system over the last decade which have led to a substantial
decline in the number of intermediate and advanced
apprenticeships started, as highlighted by previous NFER research. The
impact of this decline has been felt unevenly, with young people
and those from disadvantaged communities of all ages particularly
affected.
The report highlights how low wages are a barrier to the
recruitment and retention of young people from disadvantaged
backgrounds on apprenticeships, and that high travel costs may
discourage many from applying for more specialised opportunities
not available in their local area. These barriers, the report
says, will likely worsen under the current cost of living crisis.
NFER is calling on the Government to consider extending the
16-19 bursary fund to
apprentices. This could be used to subsidise travel costs for
apprentices from disadvantaged backgrounds and help mitigate the
current inequalities in apprenticeship access. The Government
should also review the current minimum apprenticeship wage.
Report co-author and Research Director at the NFER,
Suzanne Straw, said:
“Our research highlights that numerous barriers exist which deter
many young people – particularly those from disadvantaged
backgrounds – from starting apprenticeships. If the Government is
serious about creating ‘opportunities to all’, it needs to focus
on more effectively tackling these barriers.
“For apprenticeships to be an accessible route for young people,
particularly those who are most disadvantaged, it is essential
the Government provides the appropriate financial incentives to
training providers, colleges and employers to take on more young
people who have not already achieved a Level 2 in English and
maths.”
Other key findings:
- Traineeships, short training programmes which aim to support
young people to progress onto an apprenticeship or employment,
need an urgent review. While traineeships are intended to help
young people tackle a range of barriers to accessing
apprenticeships and develop the necessary skills and
capabilities, they do not appear to be doing this successfully.
- Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) find it difficult
to recruit suitable young people to apprenticeship vacancies.
This is partly because young people applying for intermediate and
advanced apprenticeship opportunities often do not have the
skills and experience which employers are looking for.
- Work experience is considered important for apprenticeship
applicants but it does not need to be sector specific.
- Interviewed SMEs felt that young people often lack career
direction and long-term commitment to a career and can be swayed
by higher-paid opportunities which may not offer the same
long-term progression and financial prospects as apprenticeships.
The research looks at the availability of intermediate (Level 2,
equivalent to GCSEs) and advanced (Level 3, equivalent to
A-levels) apprenticeship opportunities, and the barriers to young
people accessing apprenticeships at these levels. It draws on
statistics on the number of apprenticeships started by young
people, 20 interviews with SMEs and the information from the Find
an apprenticeship service - the Department for Education’s online
apprenticeship vacancy search website.
