Sir David McMurtry, who wrote a foreword to this guide and is one of the West’s leading businessmen, started his career as an apprentice. His firm Renishaw is taking on 45 apprentices this year
Apprenticeships ever more vital Richard Bache looks at political moves to increase the number of apprentices in Britain – something which businesses have long championed
The value of apprenticeships has long been known to progressive employers – particularly in manufacturing and technical sectors. The issue has shot up the political agenda and only last week the Education Secretary pledged to tackle “outdated snobbery” towards apprenticeships, through the introduction of a new law requiring schools to allow access to apprentice providers and colleges. Nicky Morgan said the Government wanted to “level the playing field” making sure young people were “aware of all the options open to them”. Under the plans to end the ’second class’ perception of technical and professional education, schools would be required to give equal airtime to the non-academic routes pupils can take post-16, the Department for Education said. Ministers have expressed concerns over a “two tiered system” of careers advice, with some schools unwilling to recommend apprenticeships or other technical and professional routes to any but the lowest-achieving pupils, the DfE added. Ms Morgan said: “As part of our commitment to extend opportunity to all young people, we want to level the playing field – making sure they are aware of all the options open to them and are able
to make the right choice for them. For many young people going to university will be the right choice, and we are committed to continuing to expand access to Higher Education, but for other young people the technical education provided by apprenticeships will suit them better.” The new legislation would require schools by law to collaborate with training providers, university technical colleges and colleges to make sure students were aware of all the paths open to them through apprenticeships, including Higher and Degree Apprenticeships. Martin Doel, chief executive of the Association of Colleges (AoC), said: “To make informed choices for the future, young people need high quality, impartial careers information about all post-16 education and training options, including apprenticeships and technical and professional education.” One example of a University Technical College providing new opportunities is in Swindon. UTC Swindon is different to traditional schools in that it provides education in an environment that feels like the ‘workplace’. This is achieved by delivering the curriculum through employer set ‘projects’ which tackle real industry issues. Students are grouped into learning companies where they learn to act and behave in teams just as in professional life. They devise solutions to challenges and work on projects to solve problems. As part of the workplace environment they will be expected to take responsibility for their actions. WBG-E01-S2
Education Secretary Nicky Morgan, top, said snobbery against apprentices should end. George Osborne, above, introduced a new levy
These companies will provide the pastoral support for students and will act as a vehicle for enterprise, competition and performance management. Through these companies, students will learn the language of business and the relationship between learning and financial gain. The board of directors at the college include staff from Honda, Johnson Matthey and Oxford Brookes University. In the Autumn Statement last November George Osborne introduced a new apprenticeship levy, which received the backing of one of Bristol’s biggest employers. Airbus president and chief executive Fabrice Bregier welcomed the new levy ... if it is delivered properly. Speaking on a recent visit to the Filton plant where Airbus employs 4,000 people, he said: “My understanding of that is that it is to be an incentive to have more apprentices within the business and industry and as such we support it. “I think this is excellent training for young people to join industry. “If it’s a tax, it’s never good, but if it’s an incentive and if the money goes back to the companies who make the biggest effort, this is good news for our youth.” The aim is that bigger employers will pay a 0.5 per cent tax to be used to fund apprenticeship places. Many big firms in sectors such as engineering already spend large sums on training apprentices.
THURSDAY JANUARY 28 2016 BUSINESS GUIDE 2016 - APPRENTICESHIPS 55