BCC: Work needed to reverse fall in apprenticeships

BCC: Work needed to reverse fall in apprenticeships

Commenting on the Apprenticeship Levy statistics, published by the Department for Education, Jane Gratton, Head of Business Environment and Skills Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:

“With our research showing three quarters of businesses facing skills shortages, it is vital that employers can recruit young people into the business and upskill workers at every level of the workforce. 

“Apprenticeships are very much part of the solution, but the restrictions and complexity around the use of the Apprenticeship Levy have made it more difficult for firms to use them to train staff and plug skills shortages. Since the Levy was introduced nearly a year ago, we have seen a worrying fall in the number of new apprenticeships started. This is limiting opportunities for people and could impact on business competitiveness. Something must be done urgently to reverse this trend.  

“The Government urgently needs to work with businesses to find ways to make the Apprenticeship Levy work better for everyone, and ensure that the UK economy has the skilled staff it needs. Some quick fixes include giving firms more time to source apprenticeship training, introducing more flexible payment schedules and doing more to help SMEs access apprenticeship funding.”

Share this news story:

Other News

23-05-2025
The British Hamper Company Showcases British Excellence at UK-EU Summit Reception at 10 Downing Stre...

The British Hamper Company was honoured to be selected to represent British enterprise at the UK-EU Summit Reception, held la...

Read More
23-05-2025
Understanding the Emissions of Remote Working

With the rise of remote working, tracking emissions from hybrid and remote workforces can open a different set of challenges,...

Read More

Join our ever-growing membership base

Become a member
Our Patrons