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Written Question
Department for Transport: Apprentices
Wednesday 6th March 2024

Asked by: Seema Malhotra (Labour (Co-op) - Feltham and Heston)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much his Department (a) paid in apprenticeship levy fees and (b) spent from its apprenticeship levy funds between September 2021 and August 2023.

Answered by Anthony Browne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

a) £2,100,000

b) £910,851


Written Question
Railways: Apprentices
Wednesday 18th October 2023

Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many apprenticeships have been (a) offered, (b) completed and (c) started but not completed with (i) London North Eastern Railway, (ii) Transpennine Express, (iii) Northern Rail and (iv) Southeastern Railway since they have been run by the operator of last resort.

Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

The Department is committed to ensuring that the transport workforce better reflects our diverse society. As part of the ongoing work with the Transport Employment and Skills Taskforce, the Department has been working with a range of stakeholders leading on the skills and employment agenda, which includes Apprenticeships. The Department has also included requirements for Passenger Services rail operators including OLR Operators to recruit Apprentices.

The Train Operators have confirmed as follows:

OLR Operator

Offered

Started but Ongoing

Completed

Northern 2020

1265

762

377

South Eastern 2021

682

392 (The started but not completed figure includes individuals who started an apprenticeship but then left SET before completion, as well as those that are still working to complete their apprenticeship.)

258

TransPennine Trains 2023

0

7

0

London North Eastern Railway 2018

See below

LNER’s apprenticeship data is based on the Apprenticeship Service Status:

All

312

Waiting to start

0

Live

182

Paused

3

Stopped

43

Completed

84


Written Question
National College for Advanced Transport and Infrastructure: Closures
Monday 19th June 2023

Asked by: Baroness Randerson (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the reasons for the closure of the National College for Advanced Transport and Infrastructure; what steps they plan to take to support (1) the redeployment of the College’s staff, and (2) the College’s students to complete their courses; and how the specialist premises and equipment will be used after its closure.

Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The department is working with the National College for Advanced Transport and Infrastructure (NCATI) to safeguard the interests of learners and ensure they have the opportunity to complete or continue their studies. Dependent on their location, 24 learners on study programmes have transferred to either DN Colleges Group or to South & City College Birmingham, 25 higher education learners will complete their programme in partnership with Sheffield Hallam University, and 38 apprentices will complete their programme with NCATI before 31 July 2023. With the support of their employers, a further 81 apprentices with an end date beyond 31 July 2023 have been transferred to other good quality providers.

The department is also working with the NCATI and the University of Birmingham to secure a sustainable educational use for the buildings that protects the public investment made.

In February 2022, the Department for Transport set up the industry-led skills and employment Taskforce, TEST. This is made up of leading transport industry figures who are best placed to reflect the sector’s concerns on skills and the transport labour market.

TEST’s overarching aims are to raise the profile of transport careers, promote access to training and employment opportunities, identify what specific future skills the transport sector needs, and identify innovative ways of encouraging people from underrepresented communities to work and stay in the industry.

The government is investing £3.8 billion more in further education and skills over the Parliament to ensure people can access high-quality training and education that addresses skills gaps and boosts productivity. That includes approximately £300 million to establish 21 Institutes of Technology (IoTs) across the country. IoTs will provide access to industry standard facilities and focus on the technical training needs of employers, including the rail industry, and learners in their local areas.


Written Question
National College for Advanced Transport and Infrastructure: Closures
Monday 19th June 2023

Asked by: Baroness Randerson (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government, following the closure of the National College for Advanced Transport and Infrastructure, how they plan to ensure that sufficient engineers and other specialists required to maintain the UK’s railways and transport infrastructure will be trained in the future; and what financial support they are offering to support such training.

Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The department is working with the National College for Advanced Transport and Infrastructure (NCATI) to safeguard the interests of learners and ensure they have the opportunity to complete or continue their studies. Dependent on their location, 24 learners on study programmes have transferred to either DN Colleges Group or to South & City College Birmingham, 25 higher education learners will complete their programme in partnership with Sheffield Hallam University, and 38 apprentices will complete their programme with NCATI before 31 July 2023. With the support of their employers, a further 81 apprentices with an end date beyond 31 July 2023 have been transferred to other good quality providers.

The department is also working with the NCATI and the University of Birmingham to secure a sustainable educational use for the buildings that protects the public investment made.

In February 2022, the Department for Transport set up the industry-led skills and employment Taskforce, TEST. This is made up of leading transport industry figures who are best placed to reflect the sector’s concerns on skills and the transport labour market.

TEST’s overarching aims are to raise the profile of transport careers, promote access to training and employment opportunities, identify what specific future skills the transport sector needs, and identify innovative ways of encouraging people from underrepresented communities to work and stay in the industry.

The government is investing £3.8 billion more in further education and skills over the Parliament to ensure people can access high-quality training and education that addresses skills gaps and boosts productivity. That includes approximately £300 million to establish 21 Institutes of Technology (IoTs) across the country. IoTs will provide access to industry standard facilities and focus on the technical training needs of employers, including the rail industry, and learners in their local areas.


Written Question
Government Departments: Apprentices
Monday 12th June 2023

Asked by: Nick Smith (Labour - Blaenau Gwent)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 5 June to Question 186376 on Government Departments: Apprentices, if he will provide a breakdown by Department of the percentage change in digital, data and technology apprenticeships between October 2021 and December 2022.

Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

Digital Data and Technology (DDaT) apprenticeships are a way to gain industry standard qualifications whilst working full time in a salaried DDaT role in the Civil Service. During their programme, apprentices receive training from an apprenticeship provider in their chosen field, and apply their emerging knowledge and skills to their full time role as a DDaT professional.

The Central Digital and Data Office (CDDO) is working with departments and commercial teams to address barriers to fully utilising the apprentice levy, including through increasing apprentice provider choice.

We have also grown our early talent offers. CDDO is now in the process of building a cross-government digital apprenticeship programme ‘Tech Track’ which aims to upskill existing Civil Servants into the DDaT profession through apprenticeships, targeting 350-500 roles in its first year from Q1 2024.

Apprentice numbers regularly fluctuate year to year as apprentices begin and finish their courses at different stages throughout the year. External factors play a significant role in decisions to invest in apprenticeships. These include the impact of Covid-19 on recruitment and operation of apprenticeships, and proposed reductions to overall Civil Service headcount, prompting departments to prioritise fully developed staff. Changes to the recruitment of apprentices will not be reflected in the number of apprentices in departments until the following year.

Data provided by the Civil Service Apprenticeship Unit (CSAU) shows that, between September 2021 and December 2022, the number of apprentices fluctuated as per the below table:

Department

On programme Apprentices September 2021

On programme Apprentices December 2022

Percentage Change

Ministry of Justice

2

22

1000%

Ministry of Defence

39

116

197%

Department for International Trade

1

2

100%

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

7

12

71%

Department for Education

20

23

15%

United Kingdom Statistics Authority

9

10

11%

Attorney General's Departments

1

1

0%

Department for Work and Pensions

169

163

-4%

Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

15

12

-20%

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (and former partners)

70

53

-24%

National Crime Agency

4

3

-25%

Cabinet Office

35

23

-34%

Competition and Markets Authority

2

1

-50%

Department For Digital Culture Media And Sport

4

2

-50%

HM Revenue and Customs

248

117

-52%

Home Office

89

41

-54%

Department for Transport

53

22

-58%

Department of Health and Social Care

34

13

-62%

Charity Commission

3

-

Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities

-

1


Written Question
High Speed 2 Line: Apprentices
Monday 13th February 2023

Asked by: Matthew Offord (Conservative - Hendon)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has a target for the number of apprentices working on the HS2 project.

Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

The HS2 programme has recruited over 1,100 apprentices since 2017, over halfway to its target of creating 2,000 apprenticeships over the course of the programme.


Written Question
Shipping: Apprentices
Monday 13th June 2022

Asked by: Emma Hardy (Labour - Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 16 May 2022 to Question 2636 on Shipping: Apprentices, if he will take steps to review P&O Ferries' membership of the Maritime Apprenticeship Trailblazer Working Group.

Answered by Robert Courts - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)

Membership of trailblazer groups is a matter for industry and ultimately determined by the Chair.

The Department for Education and the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education hold overall policy responsibility for apprenticeships, including trailblazer groups.

The Department for Transport will continue to work with the Merchant Navy Training Board to keep the situation with the P&O Ferries apprentices under review. DfT remains committed to the protection and welfare of all seafarers and minimising disruption for those in training.


Written Question
Shipping: Apprentices
Monday 23rd May 2022

Asked by: Emma Hardy (Labour - Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with (a) Cabinet colleagues and (b) the Merchant Navy Training Board on P&O Ferries membership of the Maritime Apprenticeship Trailblazer Working Group.

Answered by Robert Courts - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)

The Department is in discussions with the Merchant Navy Training Board regarding the seven P&O Ferriess’ apprentices that are still in training. The Merchant Navy Training Board are due to hold a meeting with the apprentices next month to understand their position and will keep the Department informed. The Department will intervene if there are any concerns. Our overall priority is the safety, protection and welfare of all seafarers.

Discussions with Cabinet colleagues continue on a range of issues.


Written Question
P&O Ferries: Dismissal
Monday 23rd May 2022

Asked by: Emma Hardy (Labour - Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact P&O Ferries' mass dismissal of UK resident seafarers on 17 March 2022 on the maritime apprenticeship policies set out in the Maritime 2050 Strategy.

Answered by Robert Courts - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)

The Department is aware there are seven apprentices who are in training with P&O Ferries, and we understand that their positions are not at risk. The Department continues to work with the Merchant Navy Training Board to keep the situation under review. Our overarching priority is the protection and welfare of all seafarers.


The 9 point plan the Secretary of State announced on 30 March outlines the steps we are taking to protect seafarer protections and welfare.


Written Question
Department for Transport: Apprentices
Thursday 28th April 2022

Asked by: Louise Haigh (Labour - Sheffield, Heeley)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the public sector apprenticeships target, how many apprentices were employed in his Department in the financial year 2021-22; and what proportion of the total workforce in his Department in that year were apprentices.

Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Department for Transport is currently collating and quality assuring data on apprenticeships for 2021/22. Final figures are not yet available. The Cabinet Office, on behalf of the Civil Service, will be publishing a full breakdown of departmental performance on apprenticeships in the Autumn in line with previous years. Data for all departments between 2017 and 2021 is available on Gov.uk and shows the department recruited 182 apprentices, equivalent to 2.3% during 2020/21.