Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the recommendations in the report by the Young Women’s Trust, Trust for London, Learning and Work Institute and Timewise Foundation, entitled Exploring models for part-time and flexible apprenticeships, what plans he has to promote greater use of part-time apprenticeships by (a) public and (b) private sector employers.

We have amended our apprenticeships funding rules to allow more flexibility in working arrangements to make it easier for part-time workers to undertake apprenticeships, such as those with caring responsibilities and lone parents.

The new rules have a stronger emphasis on making sure the apprentice has enough hours in their working week to undertake sufficient, regular training and on-the-job activity, rather than being overly prescriptive on the number of hours an apprentice must work. If the circumstances for a particular learner mean they are unable to do an apprenticeship in full-time hours (30 hours or more per week), the employer and training provider can structure the apprenticeship with fewer weekly hours, and a longer duration to make sure all of the necessary training and assessment can be carried out.

We have introduced an apprenticeships target for the public sector, to help public bodies improve the skills in both their full-time and part-time staff and develop the skilled workforce they need to deliver world class public services. We will continue to work closely with employers in the private sector to support them to take advantage of the levy, and wider funding and quality reforms, to invest in the long-term skills needs of their businesses.