Partner Article

Apprenticeship week kicks off

Apprenticeship week is under way, with over 500 events across the country lined up to promote the benefits of apprenticeships to employers.

Business Secretary Vince Cable will join apprentices and representatives from the creative industries, at an official launch event at Channel 4.

Skillset, the sector skills council for the creative industries, in partnership with the National Apprenticeships Service, and supported by the Government have pledged to work with 300 businesses in industries such as fashion, media and design.

They hope to encourage 500 apprenticeships, the first of which will be offered in September 2012.

From next week, small businesses will be able to apply for an incentive payment of £1,500 to take on their first apprentice in 2012/13.

Mr Cable commented: “I am very proud of the fact that at a time of financial constraint this Government has prioritised investment in apprenticeships.

“This has led to the creation of record numbers of apprenticeships combined with tough new standards to drive up quality.

“Apprenticeships are at the centre of the Government’s skills policy because we know that they work.

“Not only do they provide individuals with the skills they need for prosperous and rewarding careers, they also boost businesses’ profits and drive growth in the wider economy.

“I’m pleased that the creative industries recognise this and we support all the work they are doing to increase the number of apprenticeships in the sector, particularly in small businesses.

“We are providing extra help to enable small employers to hire their first apprentices. We will also continue to develop new advanced and higher-level apprenticeships to deliver the world-class skills individuals and firms need to get ahead.”

The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Developed has warned that the quality of apprenticeships is key to their long-term sustainability.

Katerina Rudiger, skills adviser at the CIPD, said: “Good quality apprenticeships can offer an alternative, high-quality route into work and help improve youth employability.

“They are also a useful tool to achieve a more balanced skills profile in the UK and respond to employer skills needs.

“Recent government policy has been to encourage more employers to offer apprenticeships but if employers who’ve never hired apprentices before are being incentivised to do so, it’s vital that they get the guidance they need to ensure the apprenticeships service the needs of employers and employees alike.”

Commenting on the creative industires, David Abraham, chief executive of Channel Four and Skillset board member, said: “As endorsed by the Creative Industries Council just last month, now is the time for the whole sector to embrace apprenticeships as a key entry route to our industries, helping to address our business needs.

“That is why we so warmly welcome the partnership between Skillset and NAS to drive this work forward.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .