Employers of young apprentices are set to save thousands of pounds after the government abolished employer National Insurance contributions for apprentices under 25 years of age.
Charities will not be exempt from the apprenticeship levy, and any money they raise but do not spend could be used by private business, according to the Charity Finance Group (CFG).
The Welsh Liberal Democrats have pledged to create 140,000 additional apprenticeship places in the next five years, should the party get elected into power next month.
Scotland’s police force is to take on up to 40 modern apprentices in a bid to attract younger staff, but Unison has cautioned that the scheme is not merely a way to attract cheap labour.
A lack of awareness about vocational training may be stopping youngsters securing long-term, sustainable employment, according to a new report.
Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has promised to create thousands more apprenticeships in high-skill industries such as engineering and technology.
The government has pledged £10 million to increase the number of degree apprenticeships, allowing more people to work towards a high-level qualification while working.
The government’s agenda to boost apprenticeships is failing to support young people into training, according to a report from the Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission.
More than 11,000 people started on a higher apprenticeship programme in the six months to January, government figures have revealed.
Changes to the apprenticeships system will cost councils across the country £600 million a year, according to the Local Government Association (LGA).
