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Apprenticeships 'boost skills'

Submitted by Adrian Gaskell MCMI on Fri, 27/02/2009 - 12:12

Taking up apprenticeships improves the career development of workers are they have more skills that employers look for, Lord Young has said.

The skills minister explained that apprenticeships are beneficial for employees, companies and the British economy as a whole.

"We are talking about career opportunities for both young people and adults and it's about making a bigger contribution to improving the skill base of the UK," he said.

"Employees benefit from getting a real qualification and a transferable skill as well as earning while they learn. Employers get a skilled employee that understands the world of work."

Lord Young concluded that although there is a downturn at the moment, the country will eventually come out of it and there will be a huge demand for skilled workers.

The comments come as research by the Learning and Skills Council shows that two-thirds of firms believe apprenticeships help them to be more competitive and 71 per cent feel that they lower overall training costs.

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Comments

Submitted by on Tue, 14/07/2009 - 15:53

Apprenticeships in my opinion, not only help to fill gaps in skill shortages in specific industries such as mechanics and beauty therapy - but it also helps to train up a demographic of people that have also suffered from a lack of attention - NEATS.

Submitted by on Thu, 13/08/2009 - 09:13

Apprenticeships used to be a major career opportunity but with the drop in manufacturing in the UK a lot of these roles have disappeared. That is why so much skilled labour comes from abroad.

I wonder if there is any link with the cost of training someone on an apprenticeship in the UK (and the view they might disappear as soon as they qualify) and the lower number of places available these days.