The Lifelong Learning Manager will brief Members on the apprenticeship system and developing government policy. 

The Lifelong Learning and Skills Manager was welcomed to the meeting and she introduced Kevin Humphries of County Training, Steve Wain of Shrewsbury College, Mike Read a business administration apprentice and Helen Woodbridge a Council Officer who employed two apprentices.  She believed that she felt that it would be useful to Members to hear the different perspectives represented by those involved in providing and undertaking apprenticeships.

Members noted that Central Government was committed to the apprenticeship system and aimed to increase the participants to three million by 2020. To achieve this the apprenticeship framework was undergoing revision to enable greater employer influence.  Trail blazer groups had been established to encourage employer involvement in the redesign.  Early indications were that the new framework would be more rigorous, with end of apprenticeship assessments and a greater emphasis on improving English and maths skills and qualifications.  Changes to funding methods were also expected with funding in future being paid to the employer rather than the training provider. Members also noted that there was a Traineeship Programme which was a precursor to an apprenticeship.  Apprentices would retain their status of employee and be eligible to receive the apprenticeship minimum wage, although employers could choose to pay a higher rate.

Members noted that funding for apprenticeships was provided by Central Government from both the Educational Funding Agency and the Skills Funding Agency depending on the age of the apprentice.  Although not all employers accessed these funds, instead choosing to run their own apprenticeship schemes.  The Richards’ Review had recommended an Apprenticeship levy through the PAYE system which would provide a funding pot for employers, although the details of this were still to be confirmed.

The Lifelong Learning and Skills Manager reported a buoyant apprenticeship landscape in the County with County training and further education colleges providing training in addition to private training providers.  She reported that apprenticeships in a wide range of economic sectors were available and providers worked well together to ensure training coverage.  The network also included the Marches LEP which worked with providers to design programmes, advertise and support them.  She continued that Shropshire recorded a slightly higher proportion of apprenticeships than the National average, although due to demographic changes the cohort was reducing, and employers struggled to find suitable apprentices.

In response to a Member’s query she advised that schools had a statutory duty to provide careers advice to students and the majority of schools commissioned the Council’s Careers Service.  The Careers Service were able to work with schools to identify students who required more focused career support. County Training and Further Education Colleges provided post 16 guidance through options evenings.  In addition to this, young people could approach local providers direct or apply nationally for apprenticeships through the government matching service.  She continued that County Training was part of the Council and this arrangement was working well.

In answer to a Member’s question the Manager for Lifelong Learning and Skills confirmed that all providers were supported by an Ofsted Inspector and where a provider’s achievement rates fell below a certain level they were no longer able to provide the service.

Mike Read was invited to speak about his experiences as an apprentice.  He explained that he had attended Shrewsbury 6^th Form College and gained A’level qualifications.  He had made the decision not to continue on to university and preferred to follow a route to develop business administration skills and gain business experience.  In answer to a Member’s query he responded that he felt that he was gaining valuable skills and experience to underpin a career in business administration and that he felt supported in this by his employer and training provider. 

Helen Woodbridge informed Members that her experience as an employer of apprentices had been positive.  Her section employed two apprentices and felt that it was an excellent way of bringing young people into the organisation.  She saw apprenticeships as a positive way of contributing to the development of young employees and the skills obtained as part of the NVQ qualification were a good foundation for future development. 

Kevin Humphreys of County Training explained that County Training had been part of the Council for thirty-five years and Ofsted had graded it as good or outstanding in all areas following its last inspection.  He continued that its apprentice programme had an 85% achievement rate with a significant number of apprentices employed at the end of their apprenticeship.  Many former apprentices went on to study for further qualifications.  He confirmed that apprenticeships were open to all age ranges.

Mr Humphreys continued that Country Training was currently advertising 57 vacancies, 7 of which were within Shropshire Council departments or schools.  He reported that County Training were experiencing difficulties in attracting high calibre candidates for vacancies.  He confirmed that they worked with schools but did not feel that there was a level playing field with many schools promoting A’levels as the first option for students.  To counter this all school pupils and their parents were written to at home and invited to a Real Apprenticeship event which was funded by the Council.  Members noted that other Councils that had put greater resources into promoting apprenticeships in schools had achieved better results. 

In response to a Member’s question, Mr Humphreys confirmed that there was some duplication of provision between County Training and SCAT but each provider offered a range of apprenticeships to suit the employer and apprentice.

Steve Wain of Shrewsbury College gave a presentation to Members [presentation attached to signed copy of the Minutes].  Members noted that the views expressed within the presentation were the personal views of Mr Wain and not necessarily those of Shrewsbury College. 

Members noted that the overall number of apprenticeships appeared to be in decline, Mr Wain cautioned that the government had revised the definition of an apprenticeship which may account for some of the decline.  Members noted that the number of apprentices mirrored the employment trends within the industries shown on the graphs, with only the construction industry showing an increase in apprenticeships.  He continued that traditionally apprenticeships tended to be in industries which were low paid and required lower levels of qualifications. 

Members considered a graph showing apprenticeship numbers across the Marches LEP area, with Shropshire having the highest number of apprentices.   Members noted that in 2002 the majority of apprentices were male aged 16 to 18, this had now dropped to 30% and the majority were now in the 19 to 24 age group with 9.4% more females than males.   There had also been a significant increase in older apprentices compared to an overall declining trend for all adult learning. 

Mr Wain commented that the training provided tended to be generic rather than specific to individual employers so may not necessarily match the skill needs required.  He suggested that thought needed to be given to the needs of the economy to ensure that training needs were being met and being provided at a high enough level. It was noted that there was a developing trend for higher degree equivalent training in some industries such as automotive with tier 3/4 training. 

Members discussed the problems of small employers having to administer their own apprenticeships and the apprenticeship levy encouraging employers to take on apprentices for the wrong reasons.