20 November 2015

Ofsted report on apprenticeships

A recent report published by Ofsted has claimed that apprenticeship programmes are not reflecting the skills needs of the economy. Sir Michael Wilshaw, head of Ofsted, stated that that the quality of apprenticeships has been diluted following the campaign to get more young people into programmes.

The report was based on a small sample of apprenticeships, mainly in the services industry, such as food and retail. This was then picked up on by the newspapers who, unfairly, did not necessarily specify which sectors the report was referring to.

The report does acknowledge that apprentices do enjoy developing their skills and knowledge alongside the real-life business experience. Ofsted found that being able to apply these practical skills to the workplace worked well, especially when the projects assigned to the apprentice went beyond their job role, allowing them to take on more responsibility and even be offered a promotion.

Skills attained from a good-quality apprenticeship include problem solving, understanding customer needs and reflecting on performance to set development targets.

Apprentices recognise the advantages of a quality programme, 82% said their apprenticeship had improved their ability to do the job and 79% said that their career prospects had improved. It is not just the apprentice who benefits from an apprenticeship. Ofsted noted that employers too deemed apprenticeships as worthwhile, and valued the support of an apprentice following quality training. In particular, SMEs found that the support of a training provider helped them add value to their business. Support from training providers includes evaluating the case for an apprenticeship as well as helping companies understand the commitment of taking an apprentice on.

The Association of Employment and Learning Providers (AELP) has highlighted that the section in the report on the range and availability of apprenticeships does not make it clear that all apprenticeships are jobs. Learning providers only deliver the programmes that employers demand so it is up to the employer to work with them to develop a quality programme that will fit in with the business’ needs. There is a significant volume of evidence and research from the likes of the NAO, CBI and the government which supports apprenticeship programmes of which make a fantastic return on investment for employers and the government alike. Apprenticeships were estimated to contribute £34 billion to the UK economy in 2014.

“The print industry works hard to ensure that print apprenticeships delivered are fit for purpose and of a high standard, “ comments Ursula Daly, Programme Director, BPIF Training. “In March 2015, our employer-led submission to develop new apprenticeship standards for the printing industry was declared successful, showing that employers within print put relevant apprenticeships as one of their key priorities. This Print Trailblazer will ensure that apprenticeships are developed which will continue to support businesses in the industry and also encourage the next generation to view print as a viable and rewarding career option.”