Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the number of additional people over the age of 50 who are expected to benefit from (a) apprenticeships, (b) skills bootcamps and (c) sector-based work academy programmes as a result of the returnerships initiative.

Returnerships are targeted at adults over the age of 50 who are returning to work or seeking a career change, by bringing together Apprenticeships, Skills Bootcamps and Sector-based Work Academy Programmes (SWAPs). Returnerships will raise awareness of these pathways, providing a clear route back into work and encouraging employers to hire older workers.

In the Spring Budget, the government announced additional funding of £63.2 million over the 2023/24 and 2024/25 financial years to increase the availability of Skills Bootcamps and SWAPs.

This includes £34.4 million of additional funding for Skills Bootcamps, helping up to 8,000 more people to benefit from this transformational scheme, with an aim of delivering 64,000 training places from the 2024/25 financial year. The department expect this will result in around 1,000 Skills Bootcamps starts for the over 50s based on current participation rates by age.

The Department for Work and Pensions is also expanding SWAPs, supported by £28.8 million of additional funding, to increase the number of places available and make the programme more accessible. This will provide for 80,000 new SWAPs starts in each of the two financial years.

The department has not made an assessment of the number of additional people over the age of 50 who are expected to start an apprenticeship. Levels of apprenticeship starts are subject to demand by employers who decide which apprenticeships they offer and when, as well as individuals choosing to apply for apprenticeship vacancies which are open to people of all ages and backgrounds.

Returnerships are being promoted as part of the Skills for Life campaign and by Work Coaches in their support to over 50 claimants. The next burst will be live in June 2023 and will direct adults to further information at Unlock your potential - Skills for Life: https://skillsforlife.campaign.gov.uk/.