Neil Carmichael MP, chair of the parliamentary Skills sub-committee, has added his voice to calls for the government to focus on quality over quantity when it comes to apprenticeships. Carmichael was speaking at a Policy Exchange and Interserve roundtable event this week, when he said:
“We have to discover what we want. We can’t just just say we want millions of apprenticeships if we don’t really know where those millions are going to go. The other thing about the millions is that we need to have a quality assurance system in place.”
Carmichael’s comments came days after several MPs had expressed doubts over the government’s plans for delivering three million apprenticeships by 2020, with some focusing on the mooted cuts to funding under the new Levy regime.
‘The figures are staggering’
Blackburn MP Kate Hollern said she was concerned “I have seen evidence that shows proposed changes to the apprenticeship funding system would see up to 37% of funding removed for business administration apprenticeships in parts of Blackburn. These figures are quite frankly staggering.
“At a time when the government is talking about opportunities for all, this is evidence of them acting against the interests of young people. Apprenticeships are incredibly important to Blackburn, particularly with our younger than average population and I’m sure these proposed changes will cause concern to colleges and apprenticeship providers in the borough. I will continue to monitor the situation and put pressure on the government wherever I can to reverse these proposals.”
“I’m fully committed and would be very supportive of a plan for a properly funded, well-resourced and successful apprenticeship system.
