Youth apprenticeships fall in last year as one in five apprentices receive no training - Umunna

The latest apprenticeship figures show that the number of under 25 year olds starting an apprenticeship has fallen by over 1,000 in the last year. The number of 19-24 years starting one has fallen by over 6,000. 

Meanwhile, between 2009/10 and 2013/14 the number of over 60s starting an apprenticeship increased by 520 per cent – 25 times more than the figure for under 25s, which grew by 21 per cent. 

New figures show that 93 per cent of those aged 25 or older already worked for their employer before starting their apprenticeship, suggesting that many existing training programmes for people already in work are simply being rebadged as apprenticeships. 

This is despite the fact that the Tories have often tried to link apprenticeship starts as a solution to the problem of youth unemployment. In October David Cameron said his Government would continue to promote apprenticeships in the next Parliament “and end youth unemployment”. 

Many apprentices aren’t receiving proper pay or training. A report from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, published on 18 December 2014, has found that: 

• 15 per cent are paid below the appropriate NMW
• Younger apprentices are more likely to be earning less than the NMW. Nearly a quarter (24 per cent) of Level 2 and Level 3 16-18 year olds have non-compliant pay levels.
• 28 per cent of Level 2 and Level 3 apprentices who do not have a written contract are paid below the NMW 

And recent government figures have shown that 21 percent of apprentices have received no formal training. 

Commenting, Shadow Business Secretary Chuka Umunna MP said: 

“To grow the number of high-skilled, better-paid jobs we need more apprenticeship opportunities - particularly for our young people. But despite David Cameron’s claims, we are seeing the numbers of apprenticeships falling and worryingly there’s been a significant drop in apprenticeship starts for young people. 

“We’ve also witnessed the historic apprenticeship brand being tarnished as training for employees who are already in work has been re-badged under the apprenticeship label. As a result, we’ve seen a huge spike in over-60s taking apprenticeships while the number of young people taking apprenticeships has fallen.

“Under Labour’s plans, we would use government procurement to create thousands of new opportunities and would act to ensure all apprenticeships are of high quality and provide a route to a more high-skilled job.”