NAPIT calls for blue skies thinking for apprenticeships

20 September 2011

At the eve of the Conference season, the NAPIT Group is once again calling for the Coalition Government to take an innovative approach towards apprenticeships.

The NAPIT Chief Executive, John Andrews commented...

"It is time to look again at the structure of apprenticeships in the United Kingdom; we need to pay more than 'lip service' to the way in which apprenticeships are funded. ...The reality is that many firms would like to take on apprentices (of any age), they just cannot afford it, especially in today's economic climate."

Mr. Andrews also made the following insightful proposals...

As a nation, we must look at apprenticeships as an investment in UK plc and consider three things:-

1. What are the social and financial costs to us all when unemployment (particularly youth unemployment) is high?
2. When long-lasting unemployment affects families where the main bread winner is made redundant, what are the consequences for us all?
3. What does the future hold for the UK plc if we cannot match, or better still, beat our competitors with business skill levels?

It's surely better to have people (particularly unemployed youngsters) learning a trade and work ethic, so as to prevent family breakdown from the pressures of social upheaval via the severe income downturn from unemployment.

We must 'gear-up' to beat the overseas competition by securing lucrative contracts for UK business, because we are better!

One solution would be to fully fund (at minimum wage rates) apprenticeships for micro, small and medium enterprises in year one, two thirds funded in year two and one third funded in year three.

Another solution would be to allow small firms to 'share' an apprentice and still attract financial support for their wages.

These two measures would do three things...

1. Divert unemployment pay to 'employment' pay – minimising the 'on-costs' of both youth and adult unemployment.
2. Allow freshly unemployed adults (>21) to immediately train for a career change, without waiting for six months whilst their family life is ruined and both social and financial costs are incurred.
3. Reduce the number of Civil Servants needed to service unemployment offices and their huge dole queues, helping to meet government saving targets with state employee reductions.

John Andrews concluded by saying...

"In my opinion, it is far better to pay someone to be employed than unemployed, especially when the UK will benefit from the resulting enhanced skills base and a lower level of social unrest, as well as a reduction in any integral crime rates."

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