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Apprenticeship recommendations meet mixed Government reviews

Quality should be key to reforms made in apprenticeships schemes, after the Government responded semi-positively to a review published in October last year.

The report, released by the House of Commons Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) committee, said apprenticeships have made progress since £1.2bn was invested in 2012, but reform is still needed.

The committee said it was happy with progress already made, however there are a number of changes needed in the system to change attitudes and create a “fit for purpose” apprenticeship programme.

The Government agreed changes need to be made, after the committee suggested a range of reforms to the future apprenticeships strategy, but not all recommendations were welcomed.

In October, the BIS committee said Government strategy must be focussed as it grows, while the delivery programme must be simplified and attitudes must been changed from the common perception that vocational courses are only for students who cannot pursue academic courses.

Adam Bailey, MP and chair for the BIS committee, said: “Apprenticeships are a viable and attractive path to a successful career and this should be reflected in the culture of our schools.

“I am therefore deeply disappointed that the Government has declined to require schools to publish ‘apprenticeship entries’ as well as the number of university places their students achieve, and call on it to reconsider the Committee’s recommendation.”

The BIS committee also suggested that more should be done to connect SMEs with the apprenticeship scheme through its own procurement practices, which the Government rejected.

Mr Bailey commented: “The Government has also failed to take up our recommendation that a formal structure be set up to attach apprenticeships to public procurement contracts.

“We understand the need to be flexible, however, we fail to believe that a structure cannot be found that retains flexibility, whilst also encouraging apprenticeships.

“The Government has promised to investigate best practice in local government contracts and we will watch this space closely.”

“During our inquiry, we were shocked to hear evidence of the Government wasting money on training schemes that it could not ensure provided value for money.

“In these straitened times, this is simply unacceptable. We are therefore dismayed that the Government has declined to act on our recommendation that firms be required to quantify the value of their ‘in-kind’ payments.”

Despite some disappointments, the Government’s response generally agreed with the proposed reforms, which the BIS committee welcomed.

Mr Bailey added: “Apprenticeships can play a pivotal role in creating the skilled workforce necessary for economic growth. I welcome the Government’s agreement with this main thrust of our report.

“Above all, I am pleased that the Government agrees that quality is the key for the apprenticeship programme going forward.

“We are pleased […] the Government has promised to consider whether it should use quality indicators when allocating money in the future. We recommended that they do so and repeat that recommendation now.

“High quality apprenticeships can provide the cornerstone of a thriving economy. We are pleased that the Government has recognised this in its response to our report. We encourage it to now take the necessary action to turn recognition into reality.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Miranda Dobson .