Engineering and manufacturing provide more than one in seven apprenticeships
6 Mar 2017
More than one in seven of all UK apprenticeships in the previous financial year were created in the manufacturing and engineering sector, says a survey by manufacturers’ organisation EEF.
The EEF marked National Apprenticeship Week 2017 with a poll of members that reveals the extent of the sector’s commitment to the programme and the new Apprenticeship Levy.
It reveals that nearly eight out of 10 members surveyed said they were committed to hiring apprenticeships with the total number begun in 2015/16 exceeding 78,000.
High quality apprenticeships frequently turn into longer-term careers
Verity O’Keefe, policy adviser, EEF
However, the take-up of apprenticeships lagged substantially behind that for higher education, revealed the survey – nearly seven times as many state school leavers went on to higher education than opted for apprenticeships after key stage 5.
In addition, although females comprised a slight majority – 55% – of apprentices overall, they made up just 6% of the intake for STEM apprenticeships.
EEF senior employment and skills policy adviser Verity O’Keefe commented: “Manufacturers are great champions of apprentices and for many years have offered high quality apprenticeships that frequently turn into longer-term careers with the same company.
“They applaud the fact that the new Apprenticeship Levy will help to encourage more young people into apprenticeship opportunities, but are deeply concerned that it could unwittingly dampen down the quality of what is on offer.”
