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Written question asked by Julian Knight (Independent (affiliation)) on Monday, 5 June 2023, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 7 June 2023. It was answered by Robert Halfon (Conservative) on Tuesday, 13 June 2023 on behalf of the Department for Education.

Apprentices: Young People

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of funding for apprenticeship training for people over the aged of 18.

Answer

Apprenticeships provide people with a unique opportunity to develop the knowledge and skills needed to start, enhance, or change careers. The department currently offers high-quality apprenticeship routes into more than 660 occupations and is providing £2.7 billion of funding by the 2024/25 financial year to support employers to take up these opportunities. In the 2021/22 academic year, 349,000 people started an apprenticeship, and of these, 271,600 were aged 19 or over. In addition, 92% of apprentices go into further work or training, with 90% in sustained employment upon completion of their programme.

We provide additional financial support for employers and training providers who take on apprentices aged under 19, those aged 19 to 24 who have an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, and those who have been in care. In each case, the employer and provider receive a payment of £1,000 to help meet the cost of additional support that these apprentices may require. For those apprentices under the age of 25 who have been in local authority care, they are entitled to a care leavers bursary of £1,000, which will rise to £3,000 from 1 August 2023.

The department is taking a range of actions to encourage uptake of apprenticeships among adults. This includes UCAS expanding their service from this autumn so that those exploring higher education routes can see more personalised options, including degree apprenticeships. From 2024, students will then be able to apply for apprenticeships alongside degrees.

In addition, we are promoting apprenticeships to older adults looking to return to the labour market or to retrain. These opportunities, called returnerships, bring together apprenticeships, skills bootcamps, and sector-based work academies. Returnerships will raise awareness of these pathways, providing a clear route back into work and encouraging employers to hire older workers.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
187724
Session
2022-23
Subjects
Apprentices Finance Young people
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk