AELP responds to Labour Party policy announcement on apprenticeships

The Association of Employment and Learning Providers (AELP) has today cautiously welcomed Labour Party proposals on apprenticeships which can be seen as ‘tentative steps towards a system that could work’.

This week, the Labour Party announced – if it wins next month’s General Election – it will allow employers to use part of the Apprenticeship Levy to fund Traineeships, a programme that gives people the skills to take on an apprenticeship or other forms of work. The Labour Party also announced plans to allow more flexibility in the content of the apprenticeship programme.

AELP supports a programme that will enable many thousands of people each year to develop the confidence and core capabilities that means employers can take them on as apprentices – but argues this should be properly funded and not come at the expense of apprenticeship programmes themselves. Moves towards modularisation, especially if that enables employers and providers to create programmes that really work, are also to be applauded.

Ben Rowland, AELP Chief Executive, said:

“AELP cautiously welcomes the Labour Party’s announcement. When taken together these are two measures that - alongside other key reforms AELP has been pushing such as changes to functional skills qualifications and a more flexible approach to end point assessment - will make apprenticeships more effective, and therefore more attractive. This will result in increasing the overall numbers embarking on the scheme as well as pushing up success rates.

These are tentative steps towards a system that could work. The Apprenticeship Levy has resulted in a doubling of investment in apprenticeships, which has now reached record levels by forcing larger businesses to sit up and get involved at a time when employer investment in skills is far too low. It is important that any proposals to reform the levy recognise that introducing flexibilities into the system will need extra investment if we’re to maintain the same number of apprenticeship starts. Therefore, our challenge to the Labour Party is to now develop a plan that shows how these reforms - which will drive up quality and, therefore, demand - can be funded alongside all the other parts of the skills system.”

The Association of Employment and Learning Providers (AELP) is a national membership body, proudly representing organisations operating in the skills sector. AELP members deliver a range of training and vocational learning – including the majority of apprenticeships as well as Skills Bootcamps, 16-19 Study Programme, Adult Education Budget and more.

For further information or interviews please contact Matt Strong, Communications Manager, AELP, on 07920 161685 or [email protected]