Government urged to ‘safeguard’ apprenticeships

A new survey by the University Vocational Awards Council (UVAC) has explored its members’ views of the policy commitments and funding support the new government should make to ensure higher and degree apprenticeships can help to address the industry’s skills gap.  

According to those surveyed, the progress made across higher and degree apprenticeships under the previous government should be continued, with 84% urging Labour to support their sustained growth. 

From a financial perspective, 64% believe the new government should commit to helping universities meet the cost challenges of delivering higher and degree apprenticeships in partnership with construction employers and help them diversify their provision to meet the needs of more business sectors. 

Dr Mandy Crawford-Lee, chief executive for UVAC, said: “Given that there is still some uncertainly around Labour’s skills policy and how it will meet its manifesto pledges, we were keen to gauge the mood of universities delivering higher and degree apprenticeships in partnership with construction employers of all sizes. 

“Our members clearly feel it’s vital that Labour continues to safeguard the future of apprenticeships and makes them available to people of all ages and across all qualification and skill levels, so that a change in government doesn’t stifle their growth. 

“Any risk to the funding of higher and degree apprenticeships seems unthinkable when you consider how critical they are to promoting social inclusion, bolstering the wider UK economy and addressing the skills gap across the sector.” 

The research also explored the impact Labour’s growth and skills levy is expected to have when it replaces the Conservatives’ apprenticeship levy.

Despite being met with some concerns, especially from levy-paying organisations, 60% of universities felt the apprenticeship levy better supported the delivery of apprenticeships across all levels, ages and occupations when compared with Labour’s new funding solution. 

However, in a boost to construction firms paying the current levy, 28% felt that apprenticeship provision for 16 to 18-year-olds should be paid for by general taxation in the same way as A levels, T levels and applied general qualifications. 

More than three quarters (77%) of respondents said they were concerned that Labour’s growth and skills levy could allow construction employers to spend up to 50% of their payments on non-apprenticeship training, which could hinder the volume of top talent entering the sector via apprenticeships. 

Those in favour of the creation of the future growth and skills levy believe it will drive improvements within the sector, with 45% saying it will offer a fairer apprenticeship deal to both large and small employers. 

Around a third (32%) feel it will provide more funding to higher and degree apprenticeships than the previous government, while 36% believe it will increase social mobility in relation to apprenticeship delivery. 

Under the previous government, approximately 20% of its annual apprenticeship budget was pledged to degree apprenticeships – 77% of universities believe this was insufficient to meet the needs of the construction sector. 

Crawford-Lee added: “Our survey is a real eye-opener into what the higher and degree apprenticeship landscape could look like under the newly elected government and we’d urge Labour to take on board our findings and the views of both universities and employers responsible for their provision.”