Apprenticeships

APP 04

Written evidence submitted by Barrow Training Partnership

We are a small private training provider and member of AELP who deliver a plastering modern apprenticeship programme for Construction Skills which is unusual in our part of the country as traditionally they deal with colleges. We are too small to have our own contract through the Skills Funding Agency.

I feel that construction apprenticeships are vital but they are not always designed for industry needs. Well established courses in the main trades of joinery, bricklaying, painting, plumbing and electrical are well catered for by colleges but this is all they offer which means that the job market is being flooded with these skills to the detriment of other occupations. Forward thinking would throw up apprenticeships where there are more likely to be jobs. For instance we would love to be able to access funding to deliver an insulation apprenticeship in preparation for the 'green deal'.

 

Achievement of qualifications is driven by funding when they should be driven by competence of the apprentice. Introducing more level 3 apprenticeships will not make any difference.

 

Apprenticeship bonuses should be paid when the employer confirms that the individual is competent and is receiving the full rate of pay.

 

Reducing the rate paid to training providers if the apprentice is over 18 makes it harder for that age group and it hurts smaller providers like us as we do not want to and cannot afford to pick and choose.

18 January 2011