Commenting on the government's plan published today to double the number of apprentices to half a million a year by 2020, the CBI's Deputy Director-General John Cridland said:
Business welcomes the government's ambition to get more people on apprenticeship schemes. We need more young people taking on-the-job training and gaining qualifications that provide access to exciting and well-paid careers, as well as delivering skills that businesss need to compete.
But the focus must be on quality as well as quantity. Reform of the apprenticeship system is vital, otherwise the relevance and status of apprenticeships will suffer and more employers will not get involved. Setting up a National Apprenticeship Service to deliver and be fully accountable for the programme and creating a 'matching service' to help employers fill apprenticeship vacancies are positive steps.
But the government must also address poor quality careers advice, enable apprenticeships to adapt more quickly to firms' changing skill needs and ensure that the way literacy and numeracy skills are taught shows young people their relevance in the workplace. Employers are willing to play their part by promoting the benefits to young people in schools.
Government drive to increase apprenticeships is welcome, but quality must not suffer - CBI
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