Apprentices

(asked on 8th November 2016) - View Source

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans her Department has to ensure that careers advice in schools draws the attention of young people to apprenticeships so that they are aware of vocational training options.


Answered by
Robert Halfon Portrait
Robert Halfon
This question was answered on 15th November 2016

Good careers education and guidance is vital in allowing every individual to climb the ladder of opportunity and find a fulfilling education or training route that is right for them, whether this is an academic route, technical route or apprenticeship.

Schools have a statutory duty to secure independent careers guidance for 12-18 year olds. This must include information on the full range of education and training options, including apprenticeships. The Government is undertaking a number of activities to help schools inform pupils about apprenticeships. The National Apprenticeship Service and its dedicated careers partners across the country attend a wide spectrum of school events to promote awareness of apprenticeships. The Apprenticeship Support and Knowledge for Schools Project is targeting support on those schools where there is clear evidence of little or no engagement with apprenticeships.

The Government has established The Careers & Enterprise Company to play a lead role in transforming the provision of careers, enterprise and employer engagement experiences for young people. The Company is rolling out an Enterprise Adviser Network to help schools and colleges develop closer links with business. The Company has appointed 1190 Enterprise Advisers and 78 Enterprise Coordinators, connecting over 900 schools and colleges. The Enterprise Advisers have been briefed on apprenticeships and will take the messages promoting apprenticeships into schools as an essential part of a wide offer of careers information.

The National Careers Service provides independent, professional advice on careers, skills and the labour market, including on the benefits of apprenticeships and how to apply for vacancies. The National Careers Service website is one of a number of careers websites used by schools that adopts the National Apprenticeship Service “Find an Apprenticeship” vacancy live feed.

The four-year ‘Get In Go Far’ campaign, which launched in May 2016, aims to influence public perceptions, awareness and attitudes towards apprenticeships as a route into a successful career, helping young people aged 14-24 to get the skills they need and encouraging more young people to apply and more employers to offer apprenticeship opportunities.

Reticulating Splines