Vtct respond to the national audit office apprenticeships report

The National Audit Office have released their apprenticeships report and the findings have highlighted a potential risk for apprentices across the board. The report gives a strong and potentially damning message to the Department of Education in which they warn them to assess making drastic changes such as reducing public funding for particular apprenticeships. As expected this news has not gone down well with apprenticeship advocates in the hair industry. Comments Alan Woods, chief executive of VTCT: "Across the board, the measurement of success for apprenticeship reforms is the result of getting more young people into rewarding work they enjoy." He continues, "At the individual level, prospective young apprentices want as many opportunities as possible to start their careers with local employers. To achieve this we need to ensure that the availability of apprenticeships is a key workforce development opportunity for all employers, whether big or small. An all-out push to maximise the engagement of all employers; extensive promotion to young people whilst still at school, and an easily understandable and consistent funding programme will address many of the issues the National Audit Office raise."