Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect of the Kickstart Scheme on apprenticeship starts; and if he will publish that modelling.

The Kickstart scheme is distinct from an apprenticeship and the types of opportunities employers offer under each scheme will be different.

Kickstart will offer a subsidised six-month work placement for a young person who otherwise might not have got into work or be ready for an apprenticeship. Further guidance on the Kickstart Scheme will be issued in due course. An apprenticeship is a sustained job of at least 12 months with training. Through their apprenticeship, apprentices will gain the technical knowledge, practical experience and wider skills they need to achieve full competence in a recognised occupation.

We are supporting employers, apprentices and training providers during this challenging time, so that people can continue to access high-quality apprenticeship opportunities, to continue to build the skills capabilities the country needs now and in the future.

As part of the Government’s Plan for Jobs, apprenticeships will be more important than ever in helping businesses to recruit the right people and develop the skills they need to recover and grow. To help businesses offer new apprenticeships, they will be able to claim £1,500 for every apprentice they hire as a new employee from 1 August 2020 until 31 January 2021- rising to £2,000 if they hire a new apprentice under the age of 25 - in recognition of the particular impacts of COVID-19 on the employment prospects of this group.

The new payment means it’s a great time for employers to offer new apprenticeship opportunities and take advantage of existing flexibilities to train their apprentices in a way that suits their needs.