Welcome to this week’s Countdown! Even under normal circumstances, July and August are a strange time for our sector, with the holidays starting just as many young people begin to think about their first steps in post-compulsory training and employment opportunities. This year however, the sector is not only facing up to this happening just when the economy has almost completely stalled – the shocking but unsurprising statistics about apprenticeship starts in May is evidence of that - but we

My final Countdown I’m leaving this week, But it is not farewell And maybe I'll come back Jane says, hell no? I guess it is simple Goodbye AELP (goodbye AELP) Will things ever be the same again? It's my final countdown. My final countdown! And if you need the tune to sing along to – why not use this? João Santos, deputy head of unit in the directorate general for employment, social affairs, and inclusion at the European Commission, commented on apprenticeships across Europe saying they

Sitting down with a gin on another Thursday lockdown evening to write my penultimate Countdown (and yes, I have had that Europe song going through my head for weeks!!). Apparently there are bets in the office about what the word count of this introduction will be, and I could write a PHD dissertation on my experiences at AELP, but I promise you I won’t drag you through the past (almost) 5 years blow by blow. We are seeing, almost day by day, more movement responding to many of the things

Initially there is an expanded youth offer of job support and training which is likely to be a combination of Job Centre Plus work coaches and training providers for 13 weeks. Following this youth offer the young person will be guided into either a traineeship, apprenticeship or the Kickstarter programme which is for 6 months with the wages subsidised at national minimum wage for 25 hours a week. Employers can register from August and programmes can start in September. Our ask, if still possible

As always when I write these first few words my intention is to keep this short and sharp. You never know but, after more than four years, I might finally get there. The long-awaited response from DfE on subcontracting came out this week with a clear desire to have more visibility and control, only supporting good quality subcontracting and reducing the volume over a period of three years. Our message hasn’t changed really – the best way to reduce subcontracting is to procure more of the AEB