About Apprenticeships
Content provided by directgov.com
Apprenticeships provide work-based training to young people and adults who want to learn new skills and gain qualifications while working.
They are one of the best ways to fill the skills gap in the UK workforce. There are now more than 255,000 young people currently training in over 150 different Apprenticeships. That’s a huge increase on the 75,800 trainees taking up training in 1997.
Recent changes
In 2004, the Apprenticeships system changed slightly, allowing some 14-16 year olds and people over the age of 25 to be apprentices.
What used to be called Foundation Modern Apprenticeships and Advanced Modern Apprenticeships, are now called Apprenticeships and Advanced Apprenticeships.
More and more new employers have decided to take part in Apprenticeships, and more places are becoming available across different industry sectors.
Employers and learning providers are now both expected to sign up to a service level agreement. This ensures a high level of quality in their training.
The aim of Apprenticeships
There is currently a skills gap in the UK. That’s bad for the nation’s competitiveness at a global level.
At the moment, only 28 per cent of the UK's working age population have skills at Apprenticeship, technical or craft level, which is much lower than other European countries.
Working towards closing this skills gap, a report in 2001 made several recommendations to improve the Apprenticeships system.
After the results of this and other reports were published, the Government set a number of targets including:
- 28 per cent of 16-21 year-olds entering Apprenticeship schemes by 2005 (which equates to 175,000 young people)
- The creation of a national framework of Apprenticeships which define basic standards and strengthens the relationship between employer and the apprentice
- An entitlement to an Apprenticeship place for all 16 and 17 year olds with five or more GCSE passes, from September 2004
- A three-year marketing campaign to promote Apprenticeships and increase take-up by employers and young people
