Bosses Praise Improvement in Work Based Learning

7 December 2005

Commenting on the publication of the Chief Inspector of the Adult Learning Inspectorate's (ALI) Annual Report, Richard Wilson, Head of Business Policy at the Institute of Directors, said:

"This year's annual report shows that the quality of work-based learning has improved dramatically over the last four years. The proportion of training providers deemed to be inadequate stood at 58% in 2001-02. This inadequacy rate tumbled to 25% in 2004-05.  This rate is still too high, but clearly the quality of training is improving decisively thanks to the work of training providers and of the ALI, to the benefit of individuals, employers and society as a whole.

"The Government needs to take three steps to ensure that work-based learning continues to improve and benefits employees and businesses. Firstly, it needs to maintain the ALI as a separate entity that continues to inspect training and promotes quality improvement. Secondly, the Government must work to drive up attainment levels in apprenticeships - only about a third of apprentices complete their entire frameworks. Thirdly, the Government must strive to help more learners who hold vocational qualifications at level 3 to progress to level 4. Many employers need employees to be qualified to this level to carry out their jobs effectively."