'Apprenticeships success story should be celebrated', says AELP

31 January 2012

Independent training providers have welcomed today's record apprenticeship success rates as a clear indicator that the apprenticeship programme is in rude health despite recent adverse publicity.

Last year's completion rate put the UK among the best in Europe and the confirmed overall rate for 2010-11 of 76.4% has cemented that position still further. In the Data Service’s own words, success rates 'have risen dramatically since 2006-07, increasing by 17.4%'.

Training providers, who deliver in excess of 70% of apprenticeships in England, have been in the vanguard of a major drive over recent years to improve the quality of learning for apprentices and the level of service for employer customers. Recently published official employer and learner satisfaction data showed that the providers’ significant investment in improving quality is paying off.

Today's official figures show that apprenticeship provision for young people is not suffering at the expense of the recent growth in adult apprenticeships. Completions for 16 to 24 year olds numbered 160,300 in 2010-11, up by 16.8% on the previous year, while starts on the programme for this age group were 275,100, an increase of 19.3% in a very tough economic environment.

Training leaders also welcomed the increase in success rates for advanced apprenticeships at a time when the government is championing them alongside Higher Apprenticeships.

Graham Hoyle, AELP's chief executive, said:

"There have been some legitimate concerns raised about some 'short-course apprenticeships' which the authorities have dealt with swiftly, but the number of cases needing investigation in a market served by over 1,000 providers and colleges has been very small.

"The latest official statistics show that right across the board, apprenticeships are playing a key role in lifting skill levels in the UK workforce and giving thousands of young people a successful start to their careers in manufacturing and service sectors. I am confident that when they review all the evidence in their new inquiry, MPs on the BIS select committee will conclude that government funding of the apprenticeship programme is proving to be good value for money.

"Amidst all the doom and gloom surrounding the economic outlook, employers and providers deserve major credit for significantly increasing the number of apprenticeship places and for offering quality training when they have to contend with higher costs on their businesses."

Apprenticeships and youth unemployment will be among the main themes at the AELP In-Tray conference which takes place on Thursday, 2 February 2012 at Leeds United Football Club, Elland Road, Leeds LS11 0ES. Representatives from the National Apprenticeship Service, UKCES, SFA, Ofsted and the Young People’s Learning Agency will be among the speakers.

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