On the way to 3 million Apprenticeships

In its commitment to create 3 million Apprenticeships by 2020 the new Government will be enshrining the term Apprenticeship in law. The UK’s Skills Minister, Nick Boles, will legally protect the term Apprenticeships through the Enterprise Bill which will be introduced in the autumn.

In order to get more employers involved in reaching the target of 3 million the Government will require all public bodies, schools, hospitals, prisons and police forces to employ Apprentices. The target set by the Government will mean Apprenticeships will receive a high profile with the new Trailblazer Apprenticeship standards leading the way. The Trailblazer standards are giving employers a greater say in designing high quality Apprenticeships which will eventually meet the needs of all sectors of industry.

Many household names in the world of industry and commerce have recognised the importance of Apprenticeships to their businesses and are committed to taking on thousands of Apprentices. Companies such as Rolls Royce, BT, Pinewood Studios and Dr Martens have all agreed to develop Apprenticeship programmes to ensure they have a skilled workforce in the future.

Whilst the Government is keen to get large companies on board, it will also incentivise small and medium sized enterprises (SME’s) to take on Apprentices. The Government is also committed to abolishing National Insurance contributions for employing apprentices under the age of 25 April 2016.