Disappointing apprenticeships starts data shows apprenticeship levy not yet working - CBI

Neil Carberry, CBI Managing Director of People policy, said:

“Today’s drop in apprenticeship starts remains alarming and proves again that the Apprenticeship Levy isn’t yet working for businesses, apprentices and the economy.

“A fresh approach is needed to make skills reforms work.  The CBI will continue in its calls to Government to evolve the Apprenticeship Levy into a flexible skills levy, so firms can fund training for their people whatever the form of high quality course they do. And policy makers must collaborate more closely with businesses and learning providers to design a stable national framework for skills.

“If we all work together to get this right, confidence can be built that the English skills system won’t keep chopping and changing, enabling firms and skills providers to invest and build new opportunities at local level.”