National Apprenticeship Week 2023

As we reflect on another successful National Apprenticeship Week, we have been thinking about the amazing contribution that apprentices make to the engineering and manufacturing (E&M) sector. This has been a fantastic opportunity to celebrate our apprentices’ success as part of a sector which strives to ensure that rich and diverse opportunities are increasingly widely accessible.

As a sector, E&M is focused on continuously improving this access and, we have set out seven points of focus which will help us to achieve our goals:

Focus 1: Respect for technical skills.

It is vital that incentives are built into the system to help achieve parity of esteem between technical and vocational qualifications, and academic achievements.

Focus 2: Levelling up.

We must maintain a strong focus on the flow of apprentices joining the sector at Level 2 and 3, even as we expand the purpose of apprenticeships to embrace degree-level studies.

Focus 3: Energising the Levy.

We call on policymakers to reform the Apprenticeship Levy so that it supports flexible training beyond the existing standards. Transferring Levy funds throughout the supply chain must be simplified.

Focus 4: Data is king.

The sector would benefit enormously from the rigorous collection and timely publication of data on apprenticeship investment and outcomes, by level and by SSA Tier 1, to inform debate and problem solving. Destination data should be made available to enhance opportunities to promote apprenticeships to new entrants.

Focus 5: Opening doors.

The ability to imaginatively recruit under-represented groups to apprenticeships and T Levels would benefit from a refreshed and re-energised working relationship with government. Potential entrants need clarity on the options and employment pathways available to them from the start.

Focus 6: Fair wage for all.

Working together, employers and government must improve financial incentives and review apprentice salaries particularly at Levels 2 and 3 in order to offer fair pay rates and opportunities that are regarded as aspirational.

Focus 7: Essential skills.

We call on the government to support employers as they address the increasing proportion of E&M apprentices who need additional support with maths and English.

Key trends

Enginuity has published a white paper that explores some of the key and emerging trends within the E&M apprenticeship landscape. Our research concludes that:

• The apprenticeship system has an expanded role and we are seeing growth in higher level apprenticeships, albeit slower than in other sectors, and a decline in Level 2 starts.
• Recruitment of women and people from ethnic minorities (excluding white ethnicities) has not increased significantly despite efforts to reach out to under-represented groups.
• The percentage of E&M apprentices with special educational needs and disabilities is increasing.
• Apprenticeship starts in Scotland and Wales have generally remained more stable than in England.

We call on policy makers, colleges and training providers to engage with the challenges we have set out in this document and encourage them to get involved by contacting Enginuity via our web form for more information.