Partner Article

Government must promote benefits of apprentices

UK employers are supportive of apprenticeships but believe that the government must do more to publicise and support them, according to research from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).

Of the 800 firms questioned in the survey - many of them small and medium-sized companies - 78% believe that the government is right to introduce new targets and 75% responded that they saw clear benefits in employing apprenticeships.

However, employer awareness regarding the new apprenticeship reform programme, driven by the creation of a National Apprenticeship Service only stood at 7%.

“Our Skills Survey finds real warmth from employers towards apprenticeships, with a clear willingness to back government efforts to double the number of places. But it’s clear from the findings that the government needs to do more to promote key reforms aimed at simplifying the apprenticeship system,” said Dr John McGurk from the CIPD.

“Apprenticeships can deliver real value for employers but even more needs to be done to drive home this positive message, helping to recruit more employers.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .