Youth Futures responds to Government plans to expand technical education pathways and increase apprenticeships

“Youth Futures Foundation welcomes the direction of travel set out today by the Government to expand young people’s access to technical education pathways, work experience and connections with employers from an earlier stage in their education. 

"Taken together with continued efforts to boost apprenticeship pathways, the announcements across employment support, education and skills represent a positive package of reforms. They have the potential to increase early exposure to vocational and technical pathways, support apprenticeship creation and progression routes, and reduce barriers to participation. 

"Countries who have had far greater success than the UK in supporting their young people to participate in the labour market tend to have much stronger links between their education systems and the world of work. This includes greater involvement from employers in pathways from an early stage and higher prioritisation of real-world learning through interventions such as work experience. 

"The evidence tells us that vocational and technical education, especially apprenticeships, are effective in getting young people into good work and are particularly impactful for those from marginalised backgrounds. Yet in recent years, we have seen a narrowing of both these early pathways and opportunities. 

"We are pleased to see the new bursary announcement to help remove financial barriers to young people taking up apprenticeships. No young person should be prevented from pursuing the pathway that is right for them because of their financial circumstances, but our research suggests that financial pressures, alongside the design of the benefits system can sometimes discourage participation.   

"While these reforms are important, we will need to do more to address the scale and stubbornness of the youth unemployment and inactivity challenge, these reforms must be part of a much bigger integrated approach across employment support, labour market, health, youth policy and more.  

"As the What Works Centre for Youth Employment, we look forward to seeing the recommendations of the final Young People and Work report, led by Alan Milburn, due to be published this Autumn. We also look forward to continuing to work with policy makers, employers and the wider sector to help ensure more young people move into, and stay in, good work.” 

Sarah Yong, Deputy CEO