Government initiatives set to spark Apprenticeship revival

At least 10,000 apprenticeships will be created in spite of the contraction in the economy, as the Bill which launched the National Apprenticeship Service was announced by John Denham and Ed Balls. New Government commitments on procurement are expected to see upwards of 7,000 new apprenticeships in construction, while high street giants released plans for large-scale increases in the numbers of apprenticeships they offer.

Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Superdrug and Phones 4u have all committed to dramatically increase their numbers of apprentices, to ensure they have the right skills to stay ahead of the competition. Sainsbury’s has recently quadrupled the number of apprentices across its stores to 465, Tesco will have a further 800, Superdrug plan a further 1,000 while Phones 4u intends to train at least 1,000 apprentices by next April.

And efforts are being made to assist employers in offering more Apprenticeships. There are plans to make sure that hard-hit sectors, such as construction, are assisted in employing more apprentices by cutting down unnecessary  bureaucracy such as demands to store paperwork for up to six years, multiple inspection visits and monthly reporting requirements at the earliest possible opportunity.

Nick Wilson, regional director for the National Apprenticeship Service in Yorkshire and the Humber explains: ‘We know that there are employers across the region that are under financial pressure from economic downturn, but those employers that can look to the future and invest in Apprenticeships are going to be one step ahead in coming through the current climate and ready to take advantage of the upturn with a well-skilled workforce.’