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| Apprenticeships: Reform needed for success, say MPs | Apprenticeships: Reform needed for success, say MPs |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Urgent reform is needed to the government's apprenticeships programme, an 11-month review has concluded. | Urgent reform is needed to the government's apprenticeships programme, an 11-month review has concluded. |
| Standards need to be improved and schemes need to be better monitored in order to provide the skills needed to boost economic growth, a report by MPs said. | Standards need to be improved and schemes need to be better monitored in order to provide the skills needed to boost economic growth, a report by MPs said. |
| The Business, Innovation and Skills Committee report into apprenticeships is urging schemes to be more ambitious. | The Business, Innovation and Skills Committee report into apprenticeships is urging schemes to be more ambitious. |
| It calls for apprenticeships to be seen as equal to study at university. | It calls for apprenticeships to be seen as equal to study at university. |
| Commenting on the publication of the report, the chairman of the BIS Committee, Adrian Bailey, said: "The apprenticeship programme can play a key role in resolving some of this country's most pressing issues." | Commenting on the publication of the report, the chairman of the BIS Committee, Adrian Bailey, said: "The apprenticeship programme can play a key role in resolving some of this country's most pressing issues." |
| Skills minister Matthew Hancock welcomed the committee's report, saying: "Apprenticeships are vital for equipping people with the skills they need to prosper, and the nation with the workforce we need to compete in the global race. | Skills minister Matthew Hancock welcomed the committee's report, saying: "Apprenticeships are vital for equipping people with the skills they need to prosper, and the nation with the workforce we need to compete in the global race. |
| "Over a million people have started an apprenticeship since 2010, right across the economy. | "Over a million people have started an apprenticeship since 2010, right across the economy. |
| "So I welcome this timely and thorough investigation into apprenticeships, and will consider carefully its suggestions to help make the programme even more successful." | "So I welcome this timely and thorough investigation into apprenticeships, and will consider carefully its suggestions to help make the programme even more successful." |
| Fit for purpose | Fit for purpose |
| Last year the government invested £1.2bn in the apprenticeship programme, with 457,200 people starting training as an apprentice. | Last year the government invested £1.2bn in the apprenticeship programme, with 457,200 people starting training as an apprentice. |
| But the report concludes that there is room for improvement and recommends a number of reforms, including a clearer government policy on the purpose and goal of apprenticeships, as well as closer monitoring of their funding and effectiveness. | But the report concludes that there is room for improvement and recommends a number of reforms, including a clearer government policy on the purpose and goal of apprenticeships, as well as closer monitoring of their funding and effectiveness. |
| It also recommends that the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) have a statutory responsibility to raise awareness of apprenticeships for students within schools. | It also recommends that the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) have a statutory responsibility to raise awareness of apprenticeships for students within schools. |
| "Apprenticeships are a viable and attractive route to a career and should be seen as equal to the university route", said Mr Bailey. | "Apprenticeships are a viable and attractive route to a career and should be seen as equal to the university route", said Mr Bailey. |
| Finally, the report recommended that the NAS should produce a robust methodology for valuing employers' contributions in future. | Finally, the report recommended that the NAS should produce a robust methodology for valuing employers' contributions in future. |
| "We heard evidence of excessive profits at the public's expense, of a government paying out too much money... this is unacceptable," Mr Bailey added. | "We heard evidence of excessive profits at the public's expense, of a government paying out too much money... this is unacceptable," Mr Bailey added. |