Spotlight on Apprenticeships and Social Mobility

Report author Beth Wheaton

Published by Policy Connect Skills Commission (January 2018)

This inquiry sought to test the stated aims of the reform programme against the realities for employers, providers and, above all, apprentices. The Skills Commission has sought to draw out their experiences and compare them to the ambitions of the new system, finding a number of gaps between intention and delivery, particularly for SMEs (small to medium-sized enterprises) and 16- to 18-year-olds. It makes a number of recommendations, primarily concerning access and incentives for participation in the apprenticeship scheme, as well as better monitoring of who benefits from the changes.

The commission has examined a significant breadth of research and brought together a wide range of views, from in-depth studies by leading sector organisations to hearing directly from young people in focus groups. It has drawn out ideas for improving the current reforms to achieve their objectives. Additionally, it has concentrated on identified unintended barriers to access and progression for disadvantaged young people, including persistent cultural as well as practical barriers.