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Apprenticeships

Answer

World Class Apprenticeships: Unlocking Talent, Building Skills for All, published in January 2008, assessed the distribution of the benefits of apprenticeships among the black and minority ethnic (BME) population, disabled people and women. This assessment found that not everyone benefited equally from the opportunities offered by apprenticeships: the 2005 apprenticeships pay survey found a 40 per cent average pay differential between male and female apprentices and found that BME young people were underrepresented in the programme. Through World Class Apprenticeships, the Government committed to addressing these inequalities and outlined specific measures that would be taken to achieve this. In 2008, the Learning and Skills Council commissioned research by BMG Research, using a survey of apprentices, into the benefits of completing an apprenticeship. This research concluded that apprenticeships do not particularly nor generally fail any major group of apprentices who complete the programme, but showed a clear gender bias in participation in sectors where this would be expected from the labour force in general. While the apprenticeship experience appears a little more positive for BME apprentices in terms of motivation and confidence, BME apprentices are less likely to have employed status and more likely to have returned to learning. The results of this research were published in February 2009, and a copy of the report will be placed in the Libraries of the House. The National Apprenticeship Service has commissioned research by the Institute of Employment Studies to help shape this pilot work. This will determine the most severe areas of under-representation and what lessons can be learnt from existing projects aiming to address inequality. The final research report is due to be published at the end of June 2009, after which providers will be invited to take part in a number of pilots to help address inequality in apprenticeships.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

4230; 711 c277-8WA

Session

2008-09

Related items

Deposited Paper DEP2009-1785
Wednesday, 24 June 2009
Deposited papers
House of Lords

Subjects

Disability Apprentices Women Ethnic groups Minority groups

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk