The Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) has recently published their plans of how to achieve the government’s pledge to create 3 million apprenticeships by 2020.
The BIS has a budget of £16.6 billion for the financial year 2015-2016 and will be working with the Department for Education on developing the apprenticeship programme to ensure not only the number of apprenticeships available improves, but also the quality so that businesses can tap into skilled labour to help their businesses grow and fill the current skills gaps.
A number of the proposals outlined in their plan have already been announced, such as the launch of the Apprenticeships Institute and the introduction of the apprentice levy on employers, which is likely to be expanded on in the upcoming Budget from Chancellor George Osborne on Wednesday 16th March.
Their plans also include a 20% increase in the number of those taking part in apprenticeships with a BAME background, which means those who are from black, Asian and minority ethnic communities. According to the Office of National Statistics, 10% of the apprenticeships started in the last Parliament were those from a BAME background.
The focus is not only on the people taking up apprenticeships, but also on specific sectors, including a rise in those entering the tourism, food, farming and agri-tech industries.
Higher education opportunities will also be developed with more degree apprenticeships to be made available, and a close partnership to be developed with colleges and institutes to ensure the delivery of higher level, quality on-the-job training opposed to classroom based courses.
Education around apprentices is also to be improved with data regularly published, and apprenticeships are not the only target as traineeships are also to be developed.
The Aspire Training Team works with young people and employers across Dorset, Hampshire and Somerset to offer apprenticeships in childcare, business administration and health and social care.
To view the full plan from BIS you can click here, or to find out more about becoming or hiring an apprentice you can speak to the Aspire Training Team on 01202 551553 or email info@aspiretrainingteam.co.uk.
