Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Apprenticeships: Occupation Range

Monday 11 March 2024 · 5 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 5 Partly answered 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education works with employers to embed essential skills like English, maths, and digital into apprenticeship standards.
  • Funding for apprenticeships has been increased by 50% to help more apprentices achieve up to level 2 English or maths.
  • The number of apprenticeship starts is up by 3% so far this year due to record investment of 2.7 billion.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Peter Aldous Con
Employment
Context

The MP is concerned about the availability of apprenticeship opportunities across various occupations.

Question

What steps her Department is taking to help increase the number of occupations for which apprenticeships are available. This includes recognising that while progress has been made, there might still be barriers such as maths and English functional skills requirements that could prevent wider employer engagement in apprenticeships.

Answer from Gillian Keegan

The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education works closely with employers to ensure that all essential skills, including English, maths and digital, are embedded into apprenticeship standards. Additionally, funding has been increased by 50% to help more apprentices achieve up to a level 2 English or maths qualification alongside their apprenticeship if they do not already hold one.

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Q2 Andrew Jones Con
Education Employment Climate
Context

The MP is interested in ensuring that new apprenticeship routes are available for fast-developing sectors like digitisation, artificial intelligence, and decarbonization technologies such as zero-emission buses.

Question

Could my right hon. Friend detail how the Government will ensure that new apprenticeship routes are available in fast developing sectors of the economy such as digitisation and artificial intelligence, or the sectors that will deliver our decarbonisation pledge, such as those new zero-emission buses in Harrogate and Knaresborough?

Answer from Gillian Keegan

Our apprenticeship programme includes a new battery manufacturing technician apprenticeship, charging point installation, and electric vehicle maintenance. There are more training opportunities in industries of the future than ever before, covering everything from AI to net zero.

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Q3 Peter Aldous Con
Education Employment
Context

The MP notes progress in increasing apprentice opportunities but highlights the barrier presented by current maths and English functional skills requirements.

Question

To remove that barrier, will my right hon. Friend consider embedding English and maths elements into the apprenticeships standards so that they are relevant to the job role?

Answer from Gillian Keegan

The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education works closely with employers to ensure that all essential skills, including English, maths and digital, are embedded into apprenticeship standards. Funding has been increased by 50% to help more apprentices achieve up to a level 2 English or maths qualification alongside their apprenticeship if they do not already hold one.

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Q4 Andrew Gwynne Ind Gorton and Denton
Education Employment
Context

The MP is concerned about a recent decline in the number of apprentice starters, particularly at higher and advanced levels.

Question

What is the Secretary of State doing to address the worrying fall in the number of apprenticeship starts, particularly for kids into higher and advanced level apprenticeships?

Answer from Gillian Keegan

Apprenticeship starts are up by 3% so far this year due to record investment of £2.7 billion into high-quality apprenticeships that spread opportunity across the country.

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Q5 Jim Shannon DUP Strangford
Education Employment Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The MP is interested in opportunities for new apprenticeships in agriculture and fisheries, noting potential areas not yet considered.

Question

What discussions has she had with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment back home to ensure opportunities for new apprenticeships in farming and fishing?

Answer from Gillian Keegan

We work with employers in farming and fishing, and have a number of apprenticeship standards across those industries. We are always happy to work with any industry that sees an opportunity for more apprentices to be trained.

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