Recruitment boost from Government and industry marks National Apprenticeship Week
13 Feb 2025
The Department for Education has announced plans to relax the rules governing apprenticeships in response to industry demands.
Delivering the news during National Apprenticeship Week, education secretary Bridget Phillipson promised the Government would “cut red tape to boost economic growth by giving employers more flexibility over maths and English requirements”.
In addition, the minimum duration for apprenticeships will be reduced by 25%, from 12 to eight months.
In a statement the Department for Education asserted this could mean an additional 10,000 more apprentices per year could be completed.
Previously, bodies such as the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board had warned that nearly one fifth of the current engineering will have retired or be close to doing so by next year.
The National Centre for Universities and Business welcomed the news but warned that reforms to funding through the Growth and Skills Levy should not affect funding eligibility for apprenticeship degrees and other qualifications accessed by adult learners.
CEO of NCUB Dr Joe Marshall called for more clarity as to how higher-level apprenticeships will be resourced.
“These qualifications play a crucial role in the UK’s skills ecosystem, bringing together universities and businesses to co-develop and deliver the expertise needed for the future workforce, he said.
“Universities are critical partners to government and business in preparing the highly skilled workforce of the future. These provers – who deliver 1 in 10 apprenticeships in England - urgently need confirmation that level 7 apprenticeships will remain a part of this strategy.”
Meanwhile UK industrial firms marked apprenticeship week with numerous announcements of recruitment and schemes.
Finning said it will recruit up to 34 new apprentice engineer roles, with placements available across the company’s 11 branches nationwide.
Its apprenticeship academy begun in 2007 last year produced 31 apprentices with a 100% retention rate – nearly double the national average of 54%, said the company.
Elsewhere, John Crane announced the launch of its inaugural degree level engineering apprenticeship programme with the University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC).
Until the end of March 2025, budding engineers, aged 18 and above can apply to become a Mechanical Engineer degree apprentice directly with the AMRC.
The programme spans five years, with year one consisting of full-time block training at the University of Sheffield AMRC Training Centre and one Friday each month working from John Crane’s site in Trafford Park, Manchester.
Subsequently, knowledge study will be one day a week, with the remaining four days spent with John Crane for on-the-job learning.
And two young engineers have become the latest recipients of the Sainsbury Engineering Management Fellows (SMF) scholarship which aims to instil business, leadership and managerial skills at the heart of UK industry.
Engineers Tom Pickering and Neel Gunturi have both been awarded a £50,000 scholarship to study for an MBA at IESE and INSEAD respectively.
SMF scheme organisers said that more than 400 Sainsbury Management Fellows have completed the scholarship programme. Since its inception in 1987, SMF recipients have founded more than 300 new companies, worth more than £4.8 billion and created more than 20,000.
Pic: Sheffield AMRC
