This year's National Apprenticeship Week brought with it lots to shout about. The latest government figures show apprenticeships are standing strong as the economy continues to recover post-Covid.
Apprenticeship starts are up over 40%, incentive payments for employers hiring apprentices rose to around 40,000 – over four times more than the year before – and apprenticeship redundancies have dropped from 220 to 10 for January this year. Even with success rates dropping by nearly 13%, overall the picture for apprenticeships is a bright one for the year ahead – despite a gloomy economic forecast elsewhere. We’re living through a time of unprecedented change in our labour market. A four-day working week is currently being trialled, while working from home and hybrid working have all been positive by-products of the pandemic. But our economy postCovid has been hit hard by skills shortages and the so-called Great Resignation. Apprenticeships could be the answer to both of these critical predicaments, in fact, there may never have been a better time to be an apprentice or take one on. ‘
Skills shortage
The national skills shortage has made headline news. From the HGV driver crisis to recent DCMS figures showing that the UK is grappling with a gaping digital skills hole, there has never been a better time to become an apprentice. At NCFE, we develop smarter solutions through education that respond to skills shortages and empower our learners. Work is currently underway to develop a digitally focused apprenticeship offering, and we already specialise in Business, Care and Education, and Health apprenticeships – all key areas crying out for a skills injection.
The Great Resignation
As if a pandemic and a skills shortage weren’t enough, we’re also in the midst of a Great Resignation. Coined in the US after record numbers of people began leaving their jobs, the trend has been felt across the globe and most recently in the UK. Businesses across the country have been hit by rising numbers of staff leaving their jobs. As the new year tends to bring about a renewed purpose and job-focus for many, employers are bracing themselves for staff shortages in 2022. Apprenticeships could prove to be the answer for both employers and for those looking for a career change.
Apprenticeships help employers develop skilled employees where they need them most in their workforce, adding value, productivity and output. Whether it is to address a skills gap or a labour shortage, apprenticeships are a tried and tested solution.
For those with itchy feet looking for a new challenge, whatever their age or starting point; an apprenticeship could be the perfect fit. Our apprenticeships provide access to some careers that many would only think accessible via a degree, in areas where there is a growing workforce need and exciting opportunities for career progression. They range from Accountancy and Finance, Health and Social Care, Teaching, Leadership and Management to Digital. Not to mention our new Teaching apprenticeships we’ve recently launched with Tes that provide an innovative route into teaching and upskill Teaching Assistants.
At NCFE, we’re proud to provide end-to-end apprenticeships so we’ll be with our learners and providers from the beginning to the end of their journey. We develop apprenticeships in areas where there is a growing workforce need and exciting opportunities for career progression. Long-term investment in skills is the only way to get our workforce back on track and apprenticeships will play a key role in levelling up and reskilling our economy.