UVAC claims funding plans for apprenticeships are ‘major blow’ to engineering
23 Oct 2024
Plans to restrict levy funding of level 7 apprenticeships will widen the skills gap, hinder the economy and have a significant financial impact on engineering companies needing to develop staff or fill specialist roles, claims the University Vocational Awards Council (UVAC).
UVAC’s new national report in partnership with Sheffield Hallam University Apprenticeships – a system built for adults explores training apprenticeships’ implications for delivering the jobs of the future, the importance of older apprentices and the impact of higher and degree apprenticeships upon firms.
Dr. Mandy Crawford-Lee, chief executive for UVAC commented: “The government’s policy aims to reduce levy funding of level 7 apprenticeships is a major blow to engineering employers, the wider economy and the skills development of both senior level staff and those in specialist roles such as technology.
“It will largely affect those businesses with apprentices aged over 25 that rely on the current financial support to meet the cost of upskilling employees to be effective managers, business leaders or occupy more technical roles via level 7 and master’s degree apprenticeships.”
She added that such a policy that could undermine the Government’s focus on economic growth and social mobility. Degree apprenticeships at level 7 gave individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds the opportunity to follow a pathway into the professions, gain access to higher education and also achieve higher-paid, senior-level positions, said Crawford-Lee.
“Many people from underserved communities could now not realise their full earning potential as a result and miss out on opportunities to become highly skilled in their chosen profession,” she stated.
Findings from the National Foundation of Educational Research reveal that 90% of roles within firms across sectors such as engineering will require higher-level skills by 2035, highlighting how the wider economy and more employers than ever will be dependent on degree apprenticeships at levels 6 and 7, rather than just those at lower levels.
Charlynne Pullen, principal research fellow at Sheffield Hallam University, who produced the Apprenticeships – a system built for Adults report, commented:
“The current apprenticeship system has significant benefits for adults and their employers, at all levels and all stages of a career.
“Young people, and those with less work experience, need additional support, and new foundation apprenticeships are a welcome recognition of that. But we should not lose sight of the support needed for adults to progress, to upskill, to reskill, and to learn new skills at a range of points in their career.”
UVAC’s Crawford-Lee added that, while her organisation would welcome attempts to engage more young people with apprenticeships via paid ‘foundation’ apprenticeships, these should not be at the expense of level 7 and the essential levy funding support needed by engineering employers.
She warned: “The government needs to prioritise the career and skills progression of employees at every stage of their working life.”
The Apprenticeships – a system built for adults report is now freely available to view here.
