Apprenticeship starts down in 2017-18


The number of apprenticeship starts has fallen significantly since last year, calling into question the effectiveness of the apprenticeship levy.


Figures from the Department for Education show that there have been 261,200 apprenticeship starts between August 2017 and March 2018. This compares to 362,400 and 346,300 starts reported in the equivalent period in 2016-17 and 2015-16 respectively — 28% down on last year and 25% on the year before.


The new data raise doubt about the government’s plans to create three million new apprenticeship starts by 2020.


The Association of Employment and Learning Providers (AELP) now estimates that 206,000 starts per quarter are now needed until the end of March 2020 in order for the government to achieve its three million starts manifesto commitment.


AELP chief executive Mark Dawe said: "With the government showing no intention of abandoning its three million target, start numbers are now so far behind the curve, action has to be take now to reverse the falls. They are damaging to productivity, social mobility and the labour market response to Brexit.”


https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/apprenticeship-and-levy-statistics-june-2018

www.aelp.org.uk/news/news/news-articles/ministers-need-to-respond-to-latest-crash-in-apprenticeship-starts