Monday 30 January 2012

Apprenticeships: Much to Inquire About

by Mark Corney

Apprenticeships are a flagship policy of the Coalition Government. The decision to conduct an inquiry into apprenticeships by the House of Commons Business Select Committee is timely and welcome. There is, indeed, much to inquire about and, incidentally, more than the terms of reference suggest.

Concerns that half of apprenticeships for 16-19 year olds are less than a year in length have grabbed the headlines in recent weeks. But little has been said about the implications for the raising of the participation to 18 in 2015. Under the RPA, a 16 year old, for instance, completing a Level 2 apprenticeship by age 17 will still have a duty to participate until their 18th birthday.