MPs back IMI call for simplified process of apprenticeship creation

The Public Accounts Committee of the House of Commons (PAC) has recommended that the Government adopt a much simpler approach to the setting up of the new apprenticeship Standards.

This echoes earlier calls from the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI), which believes that without urgent action the Government’s 3 million target for apprenticeship starts by 2020 is unachievable.

The cross party committee that oversees all Government policy and spending plans identified the complexity of the process required to create and approve the employer led “Standard” as an obstacle likely to derail Government apprenticeship plans.

The PAC’s recommendation is “The Department (DfE) should streamline the process for devising, implementing and reviewing standards.”

The current process

To create a Standard apprenticeship for a work discipline like accident repair or motorcycle maintenance a group of 10 employers must agree a draft plan for the apprenticeship.  

This has to be approved by the DfE and then the ten employers must go away and develop it. This can take up to two years, based on existing new Standards.  The DfE then has to approve that.

After that prospective End Point Assessment bodies have to apply and to be approved by the DfE. There are currently not enough EPAs for the new Standards based Apprenticeships that are available now.  

Steve Nash IMI CEO said:

“The recommendation from the PAC for the Government to simplify the new apprenticeship process is welcome. We can only hope the Minister is minded to listen. Whilst we have a number of new Standards under development there are only a couple which are actually finalized and this falls well short of meeting the broad requirements of our sector. It was originally predicted that 1,600 Standards would be in existence by 2017, but given the complexity and time taken to initiate and complete the process, the government have now moved this target out to 2020, so it’s clear that a slicker process is required.”

“In the meantime, if the government’s target for 3m apprentice starts within this parliament is to be achieved, there will still be some reliance on the old SASE Framework based apprenticeships. However, because of funding cuts these are looking considerably less viable, despite the funding revisions recently announced by the DfE following vociferous protests by a great many organizations, not least ourselves. This is leading to many businesses holding back on apprentice recruitment. So the quicker the transition can be made to the new Standards the better, but that will only happen when the processes are improved.”
 

IMI is calling for the Government to

• Simplify the processes for creating the new Standard Apprenticeships.
• Commit to a comprehensive programme of communications for employers to help them understand their responsibilities under the Apprenticeship Levy system.