9 Conclusion
141. Good quality apprenticeships provide lifelong
benefits for apprentices, those who employ them and the country
as a whole. Given the benefits far too few of the 16-19 cohort
in England take up apprenticeships. The central challenge for
the Government's reform programme is to increase the number of
young apprenticeship opportunities while ensuring that quality
is at least maintained if not improved. We support the Government's
efforts to give employers greater say, control and stake in apprenticeships
but it must guard against system changes which deter employers,
and smaller employers in particular, from participating.
142. The process of driving up numbers should start
in schools, where all pupils should have access to good quality
careers advice about the options that are most appropriate to
them. Until incentives for schools are changed most young people
will continue to receive inadequate careers advice and, as a result,
will not be aware of apprenticeship opportunities.
143. The Trailblazer standards should be rigorously
assessed to ensure that the new apprenticeships measure up to
the Government's four principles of apprenticeships, and in accordance
with our fifth principle deliver income transformation on completion
for the apprentice. Apprenticeships that do not meet these standards
should cease to attract government funding.
144. More well-prepared young people progressing
into good quality apprenticeships has the potential to create
a virtuous circle in which employers are incentivised to offer
more high-quality schemes, outcomes for employers and apprentices
are improved and, in turn, further apprenticeship opportunities
are created.
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