New partnership to increase apprenticeship supply

We’re working in partnership to help employers increase the supply of apprenticeships, to meet the demand from marginalised young people.

Our Youth Employment Toolkit suggests that for every ten young people who take part in an apprenticeship, one person will get a job who wouldn’t have done so otherwise. And our 2024 Workplace Discrimination Survey indicates that young people from minoritised ethnic backgrounds see apprenticeships as a positive opportunity for them to overcome disadvantage.  

CIPD’s 2024 research told us that 89 per cent of employers said they backed the recommendation of an Apprenticeship Guarantee for young people up to the age of 24. This would ensure a place on a Level 2 or Level 3 apprenticeship (equivalent to five GCSE’s or two A-levels) for every young person who wants one and meets the minimum entry requirements.  

But there is a mismatch between aspirations and the reality of apprenticeship opportunities available to young people. Analysis shows that since 2014/15, entry-level apprenticeship starts in England have dropped by 72 per cent.  In recognition of the issue, the Government has taken steps to address a lack of supply with measures such as more flexibility over maths and English requirements and reducing the minimum duration of an apprenticeship from 12 to 8 months. 

What are we doing?

To contribute to tackling this disparity, we are delighted to be working in a new 18-month partnership with Amazing Apprenticeships and Workwhile.

The challenges organisations face in delivering apprenticeships differ based on their size and set-up – it’s a different picture for large employers than it is for SMEs. So with Workwhile’s network of SMEs, and Amazing Apprenticeships’ network of large employers, we’ll investigate the challenges employers face, and design and deliver programmes that support employers to increase their Level 2 & Level 3 apprenticeship supply – creating more opportunities for marginalised young people. With the Government recently introducing Foundation apprenticeships, our partners will be working dynamically with employers to unpick new challenges and opportunities which arise. 

Working together, we will form a collective action group, drawing on learning and evidence to drive an impactful campaign for widespread change.