Former Barclays CEO, Anthony Jenkins has been appointed as the new shadow chair of the Institute of Apprenticeships, it has been announced by the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills. The Institute of Apprenticeships was created to monitor the quality of apprenticeships being created under the government plan to create 3 million apprenticeships by 2020.
Many changes implemented in the last few years have put employers at the heart of apprenticeships in the future, including the introduction of trailblazer apprenticeships 2 years ago, the apprenticeship levy and the Institute of Apprenticeships; which will be led by employers. The focus has shifted to employers to develop the programmes as they are the ones at the forefront of their business and know how an apprenticeship could bring value to their industries.
Jenkins is likely to focus on the financial technology industry in his role, as he recently forecast that banking will be radically reformed by technology. He began as a graduate trainee at Barclays in 1983, working there until 1989 when he left to work for Citigroup. He later returned to Barclays and was CEO from 2012 until 2015. It has also been announced that former managing director for Trade at UK Trade & Investment, Nicola Bolton, has been installed as shadow chief operating officer.
Jenkins and Bolton are the only two appointments confirmed currently for the body that is due to launch in April 2017, along with the apprenticeship levy. With these two appointments in place, the remaining board members will be placed through a public appointments process by the end of 2016.
If you’re an employer considering hiring an apprentice you can contact Aspire Training Team, an apprenticeship and training provider based in the South who place the right candidate in childcare, business administration and health & social care apprenticeships. Contact the team on 01202 551553 or email info@aspiretrainingteam.co.uk.
