Partner Article

New measures to help employers take on apprentices

Later today the skills ministers is set to announce a series of measures to make it easier for employers to take on apprentices.

The plans were formed in response to a review conducted by the Employer Reference Group, the Confederation of British Industry and several other large companies.

Under the new measures, organisations that contract apprentices directly with the government will benefit from simplified measures on payment, reporting and assessment requirements.

They will also be given more help to effectively manage recruitment training and assessment of apprentices.

The Business Secretary Vince Cable hopes that businesses who have previously been put off by complex procedures and lengthy paperwork will now consider the economic benefits of employing apprentices.

He commented: ““Apprenticeships are proving an increasingly effective training route for young people and companies.

“They are a proven way to fill skills gaps in our economy. That’s why we are boosting the number of apprenticeships and putting them at the heart of our Skills for Growth strategy.”

The changes will include a pilot for big businesses who will trial “payment by outcomes”, a plain English toolkit for apprentices to explain processes, streamlining of contracts and a more uniform certification process.

Susan Anderson, CBI Director for Education & Skills policy, said: “We welcome today’s report and the Government’s commitment to expanding apprenticeship schemes.

“Apprenticeships are vital to developing the skills that support economic growth and many employers already deliver excellent programmes.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .