The government announced in August that from next May they will be cutting some 16-18 apprenticeship framework funding rates by over 50% in the most deprived parts of the country. Well, when I say announced, what I mean is they published a searchable spreadsheet with the new rates, so I had to work out the implications myself. FE Week published the analysis on 19 August, which – with the help of over 50 MPs – found its way into the Guardian, Independent and Mirror. On Wednesday we launched our first official campaign in parliament, with the simple ambition to encourage the government to rethink this part of their reforms. For all those that sent in their support, or anyone in any doubt of our ability to mobilise around a worthy cause, the following is an account of how the day unfolded. Before midday, during an Education Select Committee, the Secretary of State for Education, Justine Greening, was quizzed by Catherine McKinnell MP about “very serious concerns” to 16-18 apprenticeships rate cuts. Ms Greening responded, “It’s a consultation. And we need to get on with the apprenticeship levy” and also added “we need to try and make sure we get it right.” Reference to a consultation was a promising start to the day, as the government had barely acknowledged the cuts. Until this point they had been holding the line that there would be much more apprenticeship funding overall and they were just simplifying the system. Ok, so the three-week consultation might have officially ended on 5 September, and change to the rates didn’t feature as a consultation question, but at least there was an acknowledgement now that the government was listening on this specific issue. Less than an hour later, the Prime Minister came to the dispatch box – literally – for her weekly question time. To her surprise, she was asked by Richard Burden MP about the 30 to 50 percent apprenticeship rate cuts and her view on the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) “car crash” criticism. The PM responded to say she didn’t recognise the situation, which promoted an independent fact-checking charity, Full Fact, to take a look. They agreed with the analysis, concluding “some popular apprenticeship schemes for 16-18 year olds could receive between 30% and 50% less funding for each apprentice”. As for the IMI, well, their boss was less than impressed, going on record with FE Week to say it was “typical of this administration. They are either deliberately misunderstanding or, like a drunk man in a china shop, they are unaware they’re about to break everything,” Shortly after PMQs, the official #SaveOurApprenticeships campaign event began in a parliament committee room, as well as online, where it was at one point trending on Twitter as the fourth most used hashtag in the whole of the UK. Even before my welcome, the event started with the new Skills Minister Robert Halfon encouraging me to get over 100 people into the committee room early and he then shook everyone’s hand personally. So, Mr Halfon, prove you can be persuaded by measured and evidence-based debate I had invited the minister to address the room, given he holds the key to undoing the rate cuts, but he was of course not supporting the campaign, which runs against his own policy. However, on the specific purpose of the campaign, to reverse the rate cuts, he conceded: “We need to look at all of those figures and we are, that is the purpose of the consultation, I expect that there will be some people who are concerned but again, as I say, that is the purpose of the consultation.” You can read a full transcript of what he said here as well as his related opinion piece in FE Week here. At the end of his speech he directly addressed Gordon Marsden and David Lammy, who had helped organise the launch event, and said: “I am not annoyed by what Gordon and David are doing, I actually welcome it because it helps us with our thinking. If I were them, I would be doing exactly the same thing.” So, where does that leave us? It leaves us with nobody in any doubt, right up to the PM, that this is an issue many MPs are now campaigning about. The impact on 16-18 funding rates first reported by FE Week has now been verified by a fact-checking charity, so who would dispute that left unresolved, it will damage the government’s credibility around boosting social mobility and justice? So, Mr Halfon, this is perhaps your first opportunity as apprenticeships minister to prove consultations can be influenced by measured and evidence-based debate. To date, you’ve said all the right things, now do the right thing and put an end to any apprenticeship funding cuts that hit the youngest and most disadvantaged hardest. FE Week campaign launch
Sue Turnbull 19 September 2016 I support this campaign to stop the cuts and enable providers to deliver apprenticeships giving youngsters the skills needed to gain sustainable employment
Chris Baker 20 September 2016 I support this Campaign! Apprenticeships should continue to be properly funded for 16-18 year olds. These young people are critical to the future development of the UK skills base and should be valued accordingly.
Jeremy Colvin 20 September 2016 I too support the #SaveOurApprenticeships campaign. Huge cuts in funding (up to 50% for some apprenticeships) are not sustainable. Young people will be hit the hardest. Training providers provide additional services for 16-18 year olds such as interview skills and preparation for employment. We place them into employment and we provide the ongoing pastoral support which is essential to their success in the workplace. The proposed funding cuts will make provision of these services less possible and reduce the opportunities for young people to find and sustain work and training. I hope that the SFA and Robert Halfon live up to their promise of listening to the consultation results and re-think these damaging cuts.
Oliver Trailor 19 September 2016 I support this campaign, the cuts will be hugely damaging and disadvantage many young people.
Stewart Cross 19 September 2016 I support this campaign. The impact on young learners in London will be especially damaging.
Toni C Eastwood OBE, MBA 19 September 2016 I support this campaign, these cuts are hugely damaging and go completely against the grain for a Government who are purporting to believe in and promote 3m apprentices.
Charlotte Moreland 19 September 2016 I support this campaign. The cuts would have a massive impact on the priority group of 16-18 year olds we need to help the most.
Ross Midgley 19 September 2016 PBD strongly supports this campaign. Simplification is fine and we understand that the government wants to encourage the move to new standards. But in many sectors, no standards are yet available. The scale of these proposed cuts will force many providers to abandon apprenticeship training, while those that remain will have to charge employers well above the government cap in order to make ends meet. As drafted, these proposal will be catastrophic for quality, for apprenticeship recruitment and for jobs. Read our consultation response at goo.gl/IQyAe6
David Holmes 19 September 2016 I support this campaign, damaging for learners, employers and providers.
David Walrond 19 September 2016 I support this campaign . The proposed funding ratecuts undermine young people’s life chances and the government’s own policies on productivity and reducing disadvantage.
Nicole Williams 19 September 2016 I support this campaign. We should be looking after the educational welfare of our young people.
Neil Warren 19 September 2016 This will negatively impact on 16 – 18 appretnicveships, including STEM. I support this campaign
Noel Dunne 19 September 2016 I support the campaign. The consequence of these cuts is that specialist low volume high industry demand apprenticeships, such as in technical theatre, will end. It won’t be economically viable to run them. Far from increasing employer and learner choice it will decrease it. Where’s the social mobility in that!
Corrina Hembury 19 September 2016 I support the #SaveOurApprenticeships campaign. The huge cuts in funding (up to 50% for some of our most popular apprenticeships)are unsustainable and it is the young people who will be hit hardest. The additional services that we provide for 16-18 year olds such as interview skills, a recruitment service to place them into employment and the ongoing pastoral support are essential to their successful transition into the workplace. The proposed funding cuts will jeopardise these services and reduce the opportunities for young people to find and sustain work and training. I hope that the SFA and Robert Halfon live up to their promise of listening to the consultation results and re-think these damaging cuts.
Sue Steed 19 September 2016 I support this campaign. The cuts will make it very difficult to deliver the quality of service
Alison Robinson 19 September 2016 I support this campaign – the proposed cuts in funding will dramatically cut the number of apprenticeships.
Beverley Slynn 19 September 2016 I support this campaign, it would appear this proposal was made by people who have absolutely no understanding of the impact this will have on young people who want to take the apprenticeship route at 16.
Nigel Hartley 19 September 2016 I support this campaign. Even for Stem subjects there is a significant impact – we have modelled with one of our major engineering employers Framework 539 – Mechanical Manufacturing Engineering. Using standard 16-18 and 19-23 learners (ie no area weighting, no disadvantage uplift, no large employer reduction) the rates arrived at are as follows: 16-18 £15325 19-23 £5786 Using the initial funding guidance received (at para 14)if you then apply the 80% loading to the £5786 rate giving a funding value of £10414.80 – it also states in the same paragraph 14 that the framework will then be allocated to the nearest funding band effectively rounding this down to the Band 9 £9000 band (which is in line with the Government linked banding tables) rather than up to the Band 10 rate of £12000. In effect this reduces the amount of funding available to each 16-18 learner by £6325 if the proposal is adopted in its current form. If a learner had been 19+ this would of course be an increase of £3214 per learner. From a funding viewpoint in 2015/16 our starts by age profile for Engineering on level 3 programmes was roughly 2/3 16-18 with 1/3 19+ so in effect for every 100 learners (we support 175+ starts per year)funded on the new rules we will receive c. £318k less over the life of the programme. As we discussed this confirms (based on our current understanding) that any new starts post 30/4/17 would be funded from the Levy at the maximum rate of £9000. This will make it extremely difficult, if not impossible to deliver a viable programme unless the new standard is in place by the time your new starts commence in September 2017, or the Government adjusts its current proposals, or Employers all agree to make an additional payment outside their levy pot or we as a provider run at a loss for the period leading up to the standards launch and negotiate prices to recover these losses over the longer period. This reinforces the point that even for 16-18 stem learners there will be a significant impact on funding and Apprentice recruitment.
graham hasting-evans 19 September 2016 I support this campaign. We must invest in high quality apprenticeship in order to face the economic challenges ahead
Georgina Burton 19 September 2016 I support this campaign. If these proposals go ahead the impact on apprenticeships for young people will be massive and runs the real risk that some pathways will disappear since they will not be deliverable within the proposed funding rates. SME and micro businesses offer really valuable apprenticeship opportunities for young people but they will not be in a position to make up this shortfall. Hopefully this campaign can raise the profile of these damaging cuts and allow apprenticeships to continue to be a valuable progression route for learners of all ages.
Judith Butler 19 September 2016 I support this campaign. If we are to encourage young people who wish to progress into apprenticeships then the colleges need the financial backing and support from the government to be able to deliver a quality training experience and develop future skills. Cuts to funding are discouraging and frustrating for colleges wishing to offer the very best quality of training to a 16/18 year olds – investment is required at this early stage to help a young person on their chosen career path. Lots of support is required as it can be quite daunting the transition from school to the workplace.
Jamie Rail 19 September 2016 I Support the campaign These cuts to the funding of Apprenticeships will have a massive impact both on providers and the number and type of Apprenticeships we can offer and this will have an obvious knock on effect on young people on what is available to them. We feel this will be especially felt in rural parts of the country like us in the Southwest where travel costs of visiting employers is high. If you pay £125 a month for an Apprenticeship that either means a drop in quality or many less Apprenticeships being offered.
Janet Smith 19 September 2016 I support this campaign – the reform is a backward step for disadvantaged young people.
Peter 19 September 2016 I support the campaign, It is difficult enough to get the right caliber of employers without cutting the rates for the training
John 19 September 2016 I support the #SaveOurApprenticeships campaign. The huge cuts in funding (up to 50% for some apprenticeships)are unsustainable and it is the 16-18 year old age group who will be hit hardest. The proposed funding cuts will jeopardise the delivery of services and reduce the opportunities for young people to find and sustain work and training. This will also force many quality providers to pull out of delivering training in apprenticeships.
John Parker 19 September 2016 I support the #SaveOurApprenticeships campaign. The huge cuts in funding are unsustainable and it is the 16-18 year old age group who will be hit the hardest. This will force many providers currently delivering excellent training programmes to pull out of the delivery of apprenticeship training.
James Stockdale 19 September 2016 I absolutely support this campaign. The levy is fraught with risk, as it has not been fully tested (I’d also say the same about the trailblazer standards in many cases). Steve Nash from the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) is 100% spot on – this is a car crash waiting to happen and if the brakes are not put on soon, with further detailed consideration given – we could be looking at irreparable damage to the Apprenticeship brand. #saveourApprenticeships
Chris Bradley 19 September 2016 I support this campaign. Perhaps those involved in the “informed” decision making process did not read Professor Alison Wolf’s report which prompted the levy, or maybe it has just been dismissed. The report says: “Under current funding arrangements, three million new apprenticeships would leave funding of only £2567 available per apprentice. Currently, only two apprenticeship frameworks, out of more than 200, receive government support below £3000, meaning it will be impossible to meet the three million target and improve the quality and labour market relevance of apprenticeships at the same time.” I know this campaign is about the huge 16-18 funding rate reduction however in general terms how can the government/SFA actually believe that having three funding bands below £3,000 is realistic in light of the above report’s findings? Unbelievable!
Sue 19 September 2016 I support this campaign – young people who are not academic and need a vocational route will be disenfranchised by these swathing cuts to funding. Increase in University tuition fees will also put many young people off the idea of staying on at school to take this route and we need to provide them with a high quality and respected alternative.
steph h 19 September 2016 I very much support this campaign. We must ensure there is real joined up thinking to ensure all 16-18 year olds have top quality choices and opportunities no matter what their ambitions are. It is unthinkable that a policy can be allowed to target those with the most to lose.
Steve Roe 19 September 2016 I support this campaign. The government must ‘recognise’ the funding cuts for 16-18
Andrea 19 September 2016 I support the #SaveOurApprenticeships campaign. Not only will the cuts disadvantage young people. It will put traning providers out of business as they will not be able to deliver the quality needed for the funding proposed.
Sue Wright 19 September 2016 I wholeheartedly support the #SaveOurApprenticeships campaign. Funding cuts of up to 50% for some apprenticeships are unsustainable in the long-term. It will also limit the opportunities for young people to find and sustain work and training. These cuts will also force many high quality providers to pull out of delivering training in apprenticeships. How will this help the Government to achieve its target of 3m apprenticeships by 2020?
Gail Dalton-Ayres 19 September 2016 I support this campaign….funding cuts on this scale will have a serious impact as less funding means less quality provision out there as providers can not provide like for like quality provision with such drastic funding cuts. Learner will lose out in the end …government will never reach its targets – no one wins here!
Derek Street 19 September 2016 This has my full support, once again the Government prioritise an initiative such as apprenticeships, set unrealistic targets and then of course reduce the funding, there will then be another review disguising why the project did not work. If this is a Government priority funding should be increased in order to support its success.
Stephen Aitken 19 September 2016 I Support this campaign 100%, I have worked with Apprenticeships for more years than I care to admit and if this current proposal goes ahead then the Apprenticeship brand that has been gaining strength over the last few years will suffer irreparable harm, a secondary impact of these proposals could lead to more job losses in the FE Sector as providers react to a further reductions to funding.
James Harkness 19 September 2016 I support the campaign. I am very concerned that the removal of funding will have a detrimental effect upon the most disadvantaged in our society. We should not sacrifice the future of our young people by cutting their access to work and training just for the sake of reducing admin! If we are to face the future out of Europe stronger together then we need to improve the nation’s productivity by boosting skills and we need to do that now through apprenticeships.
Kevin Pearson 19 September 2016 I support this campaign – These cuts will have a detrimental effect on the growth of 16-18 apprenticeships in areas of deprivation. The funding of level 3 apprenticeships frameworks in particular is so uneconomic for training providers that it will be detrimental to progression in subject areas that have high demand by employers.
Michelle 19 September 2016 I support this campaign! Think about quality of apprenticeship delivery and the impact on our workforce. 16-18 year olds are our future!
James Brooks 19 September 2016 Yet again the Government plan to cut funding for providers delivering apprenticeships, it is almost they don’t understand not all people (youngster 16-18) want to go on to FE at college or university. This was very much the case for me, I took the opportunity to study and train as an electrician via an apprenticeship (the best thing I ever done). The Government really need to understand by making cuts after cut after cuts will only ever hinder the productivity of our country!!! as many of these skills are only ever passed on via an apprenticeship by skilled people who have done the profession (like myself now a lecturer for electro-technical). I wonder who will do the electrics, plumbing, building or plastering for example when the skill set is lost because no one has the funding to pass on this valuable knowledge. Many studies have shown in the next 15-20 years the UK will be short of all skills sets within construction and engineering, Now the UK is leaving the European Union we cannot rely on additional support provided by European workers. I feel the Government is short sighted and is failing to see the short fall in its forward planning, we must act now to protect our skill sets and productivity.
Hamish Davidson 19 September 2016 Totally support this campaign. More power to your elbow as you get the Government to see sense on this one.
Garrie Owens 19 September 2016 I support this campaign. If you combine the cuts in 16-18 years old funding in construction with lack of deliverable standards in construction means in 12 months we will not have a level 2 entry pathway in any primary trades, the primary entry trades For young people
Lorna Freakley 19 September 2016 I support this campaign, having worked with a range of providers and employers over the last 18 months in ensuring that new apprenticeship standards are understood and the implications of the Levy, these funding cuts will have a significant impact on recruitment.
Berenika Wilkins 19 September 2016 I fully support this campaign. The government needs to reconsider not only the proposed disastrous funding cuts to 16-18 apprenticeships but also their suggested timetable for the new RoATP, transitional arrangements for existing apprentices and subcontracting.
Sam Bern 19 September 2016 I support this campaign. Currently changes are being pushed through without due thought or care to the sector.
Denise Wilson 19 September 2016 I support the campaign. 16-18 year olds in the North East are disadvantaged enough without this.
Lindsey Johnson 19 September 2016 I support this campaign! The reduction in rates will make some frameworks unaffordable to deliver to a high quality standard, including some which are key to our local economy (e.g. agriculture, construction). The end result will reduce opportunities for young people, with fewer employers able to find quality apprenticeship provision in their local area, and whole sectors uncatered for.
Steven Bolton 19 September 2016 I support this campaign – the proposed cuts will only drive down numbers and quality, the Government seriously needs to readdress its position and listen to the voices of training providers.
Christine Barton 19 September 2016 I support this campaign! This will have a detrimental effect which will be long lasting for specifically for curent and future 16-18 year olds
Julie Bennett 19 September 2016 I Support this campaign #saveourapprenticeships 16-18 Year old funding is used to not only train this age group but also pays for; A youth recruitment team to source Apprenticeship vacancies and fill with the most suitable candidate Secondary school interaction to provide IAG for students & teachers on the benefits of the Apprenticeship & traineeship schemes Interview ready & CV writing workshop’s to fill a huge skills gap with school leavers Without Providers Promoting the benefits of employing a 16-18 year old apprentice to employers – how will these vital vacancies be sourced? How will young people access Apprenticeships? How will this keep our school leavers in Education & training until 18? How will this help fight youth unemployment? We cannot allow the lion’s share of funding to be used to upskill 19+ learners already in employment. This is what will happen if we do not fight the 16-18 funding reforms!
Sara 19 September 2016 I support this campaign. The government must ‘recognise’ the funding cuts for 16-18, and the damage it will cause to our young people.
Graham Plant 19 September 2016 I support this campaign. The perfect storm is gathering, rate cuts, 16-18 education requiring co-investment, bespoke Standards not fit for all, levy payers expected to carry the load, area reviews, strategic planning required for next May with so many variables… the list goes on!
Jeff Conisbee 19 September 2016 I support this campaign, as this will be detrimental to the training of young people.
Mark Burgess 19 September 2016 I fully support this campaign. If the government wants young people to have the opportunity to secure a future career, investment is needed in apprenticeships.It is the only way to learn a vocational trade and secure a future career for many young people. I spend most of my time trying to find apprenticeship jobs for learners and that’s what is important.The new RoATP and its timetable is also a concern but funding to help learners gain an apprenticeship should not be an issue. Stop wasting money on full time vocational training courses with no apprenticeship job outcomes and put the money into apprenticeships based on a day release basis. The skills shortages in construction should be seen as an opportunity.
Dawn Bowden 19 September 2016 I support this campaign! The government must realise these cuts will have a detrimental effect which will be long lasting for specifically for current and future 16-18 year olds.
Robert Lasslett 19 September 2016 I support this campaign. We should give the young people the opportunity an chance to get the best start to their working careers.
Keith Middleton 19 September 2016 I support the campaign further cuts to funding simply leaves young preoplr vulnerable and at a disadvantage.
Ian Whitehead-Ross 19 September 2016 These cuts will result in skills shortages and reduce the future life chances of young people across England.
Tom Boyle 19 September 2016 I support this campaign. They also need to reconsider the timetable for the new RoATP, transitional arrangements for existing apprentices and subcontracting.
Nicola Clark 19 September 2016 I fully support the campaign! These cuts will result in skills shortages and reduce the future life chances of young people across England.
Linda Robinson 20 September 2016 I support this campaign, Apprenticeships are our future and so are our children. We must support.
Debbie Ward 19 September 2016 I support this campaign. The implications for apprenticeships if this goes ahead are huge.
Chris Ward 19 September 2016 I support this campaign. The proposed funding changes will jeopardise the number of small businesses prepared to recruit an apprentice and consequently damage the opportunity for less academic young people to benefit from the apprenticeship routeway into permanent employment and training. The cuts will impact the quality of training that can be provided, the Government should reconsider.
Tanya Godbeer 19 September 2016 We at Yourfeed support this campaign! We have a 22 year old CEO who is a brilliant case study for apprenticeships. As a Young Entrepreneur, Jack is changing the face of youth employment and has pledged to connect 2 million millennials to commercial opportunities by 2020. Anyway we can support just let us know! You can find out more about Jack at Twitter.com/JackParsons_CEO. Maybe worth getting in touch.
Stephen Millross 19 September 2016 Well done. Maybe it will force some politicians to confront the reality gap between what they claim they would like to happen and what is likely to happen if they act the way they intend to.
Adam Blunt 19 September 2016 I support this campaign, these changes will have a dramatic impact on young people and the opportunities available to them
Jenny Vickers 19 September 2016 I support this campaign!! The proposal regarding reducing 16-18 funding will put many smaller providers out of business; how are we meant to run a business on between 50- 70% less funding? I believe there will be a massive decrease in apprenticeship provision should this go ahead. I am also concerned regarding the timeline for RoATP, transitional arrangements for learners and subcontracting changes
Oliver Hill 19 September 2016 I fully support his campaign. Lets hope “proposal” means, we weren’t sure this would work, so we are asking you and happy to make changes for the betterment for the future of the most disadvantaged.
Darren Shanley 19 September 2016 I support this campaign! I am concerned that we are looking at a run away train on all these reforms. The system was not broken, but needed some improvements. Please talk to the people that care and know whats needed.
Gemma Gathercole 19 September 2016 I support this campaign. With these reforms, the government is reaching far and wide and attempting to do so incredibly quickly. As a result, the apprenticeship brand could be irrecoverably damaged. I can understand why the government want to promise employers a ‘simple’ system, however, the is a link between simplicity and fairness that cannot be ignored. These reforms will remove vital money from programmes run in areas where staff costs are higher and more crucially remove money from learners in deprived areas and the youngest learners in the apprenticeship programme that require more intervention and support than will be available to them in future. This is wrong. Money collected by the levy becomes public money and with public money comes a requisite level of complexity that should be understood.
Jo 19 September 2016 I support the campaign #saveourapprenticeships These cuts to the funding of apprenticeships will have a massive impact on learners, providers and employers
Caroline 19 September 2016 I support this campaign. We are passionate about delivering high quality apprenticeships which meet the local needs of employers. However, I am concerned that the funding changes may result in us having to re-evaluate whether or not it is affordable to continue in this area of work.
Mark Andrews 19 September 2016 I fully support this campaign. I have re-calculated the funding my college would receive on STEM programmes only (by far the best funded under the new regime), and like for like funding for my current 16/17 end date cohort is 15% down before any disadvantage uplifts are taken into account. This totally flies in the face of the policy commitment to STEM subjects and to the idea of widening participation to areas where delivery is much more costly.
Ian Cassidy 19 September 2016 I fully support his campaign.I am concerned that we are being steamrollered into all of these reforms without the people that are making the decisions fully understanding the implications of their decisions. The current system is not broken, but needs some improvements. Please talk to the people that know what is best for apprentices. These reforms could make a real mess of things and leave a very damaging legacy for apprenticeships in the future.
Alex 19 September 2016 I support this campaign. The cuts are extremely damaging to the future of apprenticeships.
Camilla 19 September 2016 I support this campaign, the proposed funding cuts will be disastrous for the sector and learners who’s options will be significantly reduced.
Shaun Hope 19 September 2016 I fully support this campaign. These worrying funding cuts, lack of clarity and array of unanswered questions are creating real worrying times for apprenticeships.
rachael randall 19 September 2016 I support this campaign the funding rates cut will have a devastating impact on apprenticeships. whilst we all agree some changes and improvements need to be made we are in danger of ruining a system that wasn’t actually broken.
Rob George 19 September 2016 I support this campaign. 16-18 funding needs to be maintained for apprenticeships to continue to engage this age group of young people and offer a genuine vocational option for young people from A levels and College courses. Apprenticeships are a proven vehicle into sustained employment, as evidenced by many people I meet on a day to day basis and includes myself.
David Marriott 19 September 2016 I support this campaign. Its hard enough to get an apprentice at 16-18 as it is, without more reasons for them being overlooked.
Mark Lee 19 September 2016 I fully support this campaign. Young people deserve choice and clarity of opportunity.
Paul T Cox 19 September 2016 I fully support the campaign – the government has to change its stance on this
Mel 19 September 2016 I support this campaign. These changes will hit the small businesses hard. The landbased sector is predominantly small businesses with an ageing work force and their is need to support apprentices in this area.
Steve Wiggins 19 September 2016 I support this campaign. Government should be most concerned with true value for money, which often means paying fair rates. Not to do so encourages a mentality (too often becoming a reality) of “cutting corners,” to the cost of industry and to The Country’s young people.
Sharron Carlill 19 September 2016 I support this campaign. We must invest in high quality apprenticeship in order to compete in the global market.
Mark Boulting 19 September 2016 I fully support this campaign- the current plans will put us back 20 years on apprenticeships.
Maria Charlton 19 September 2016 I fully Support this campaign. Aging work force means less skills in all industries, fully funded 16-18 Apprenticeship funding is critical to ensure longevity and skill growth in all sectors and for all types of employers.
Jeff Lester 19 September 2016 I fully support this campaign. It makes no sense, the government making statements that we need more apprentices and then saying “Oh by the way we will expect you to pay for it, not us”. you cant have it both ways. we need more apprentices to bolster an ever decreasing experienced workforce. without the monetary support, we will go on decreasing this experience and rely on more outside influence and help. get back to the great workforce we used to have and the envy of the world.
Janet Meenaghan 19 September 2016 I support this campaign. The funding methodology clearly needs to be adjusted.
Crista Wilkieson 19 September 2016 I support this campaign 100%. The proposed 16-18 funding cuts will have a huge detrimental impact on Apprenticeships. The government have to rethink these plans!!
Jon Carr 19 September 2016 I fully support the campaign. Another badly thought out reform by this government that will inevitably result in less opportunities for young people in this country.
Sean Maxwell 19 September 2016 “I support this campaign”. Many young people will miss out on opportunities to improve their futures, skills and life chances if the proposed cuts are approved.
Paul scott 19 September 2016 I support this campaign, it’s important to ensure all young adults are able to receive this training so obtaining an apprenticeship and employment
Helen 19 September 2016 I completely support this campaign. The Apprenticehip programme may well flourish for large corporate employers under the reforms, but for every other employer there is no way that the programme can be sustained. Whilst providers and employers will certainly struggle, the worst thing is that young people will lose out on massive opportunities.
Paul O'Neill 19 September 2016 I fully support this campaign and agree with the “china shop” analogy. Matthew Hancock and Doug Richard have started a real catastrophe without fully managing to achieve the first aim.
Ian Kennedy 19 September 2016 I agree with the warnings above. The funding rate changes, and the move to end assessment, will directly and indirectly discriminate against learners who have already been repeatedly ‘failed’ (in both senses) by the education system who I am often able to use the current apprenticeships model to turn around in life; it looks like many of the apprenticeship programmes and types currently on offer will cease to be financially viable for providers, closing those career paths off completely to would-be apprentices.
danny husband 19 September 2016 I fully support this campaign, the young people are the real losers in all of this.
Stephen Bucknall 19 September 2016 I support this campaign. The proposed funding cuts will deny many young people the opportunity to engage in high quality training.
Janet Robinson 19 September 2016 I totally support this campaign. How the government can think that we are able to deliver high quality apprenticeships on a shoe string beats me. This will cause some good Training providers to go as cannot sustain the delivery and operations of the programme. Young people will be disadvantaged and remain thinking the only route is 6th Form and A levels and Colleges and Training providers will move their provisions to the most higher banded sectors. A disaster just waiting to happen. Let’s get this right for the sake of apprenticeships
Jean Rogers 19 September 2016 I fully support this campaign. If the proposed funding cuts stand it will be financially impossible to provide quality training for our apprentices, especially in remote areas in the South West . Why has so much been offered to STEM related occupational areas whilst savagely cutting the more traditional trades like hairdressing and construction? We will lose some excellent training providers who are able to successfully promote and deliver quality apprenticeships and will fail young people with aspirations that will not be fulfilled.
Jon Thompson 19 September 2016 Excellent and very worthwhile campaign. It should be of really concern that the implications of the proposed changes including the rates will have a major impact on supply and the capacity to see through the reforms. Ultimately this will, at its worse, damage the economy longer term.
Andrew 19 September 2016 I support this campaign, and would like an answer to the question, “How many people that are writing these policies, and that work in Whitehall, have done an apprenticeship?”
Jacqui Henderson 19 September 2016 FE Weekly is to be commended for having launched this campaign. Having been involved from the very early days of the revival of apprenticeships I am devastated at the new proposals. I fully support this campaign and strongly urge others to add their name to the list. It will damage the future of our young people, deny employers of the highly skilled young employees they need and have a negative effect on our whole economy.
Simon Perriton 19 September 2016 Apprenticeships represent a vital part of the UK skills programme. The 16-18 year group need to have options and be supported. Funding must be balanced between the age groups. I therefore support this campaign.
GEMMA 19 September 2016 I support the campaign wholeheartedly. Everyone needs to see the benefits of Apprenticeships and especially how hard it can be to encourage employers to invest just time let alone money onto training and qualifications. Please back this campaign.
Stelios Yalarakis 19 September 2016 I support the campaign, as it is very important to invest in the younger generation.
Debra Davies 20 September 2016 I support this campaign as it would have a massive impact on 16 – 18 year olds
Donna 20 September 2016 I support this campaign we need higher quality apprenticeships and with these proposed cuts we will not get that quality!
stephen Jeffery 20 September 2016 I support this campaign. How much more does FE have to pay for austerity. This decision makes providing apprenticeship training undeliverable.
Mark Packham 20 September 2016 I fully support this campaign, Apprenticeships are our future and this is destroying them.
Helen Hall 20 September 2016 I support this campaign. FE cuts have made things difficult enough in recent times. Apprenticeships are what keeps us afloat.
Richard 20 September 2016 I fully support this campaign and based on the proposed funding, we are already looking at reducing our provision which seems very unfair on potential apprentices and local employment.
Clare Duxbury 20 September 2016 I support this campaign! 16-18 year olds need MORE funding support, not LESS!
Robert Jukes 20 September 2016 I support this campaign, it is vital that everyone has access to funding to ensure that they can gain a recognised qualification.
Anna Byers 20 September 2016 I support this campaign as yet again a trail of hopefully unintended outcomes come raining down on us.
Audrey Dawson 20 September 2016 We fully support this campaign. The proposed reforms/funding cuts will have a detrimental impact on the future of our young people and tarnish the Apprenticeship brand.
Julia D 20 September 2016 I fully support this campaign. Young people deserve properly funded opportunities to learn and develop the skills required for working life. We’re constantly told there is a skills shortage – how does this help??
Denise Newcomb 20 September 2016 This campaign is critical to the future of the country, we have an aging workforce and many of the skills that need to be passed on will be lost. Our young people will not get the guidance of years of experience if they are no Apprenticeships going forward. The cuts to the industry and changes being made will impact in such a way that it will wipe out the Providers and FE Colleges as it becomes unsustainable. We will not be in a position to compete on any level soon and be totally dependent on other country’s to support us.
John Lymn 20 September 2016 I support this campaign. Without appropriate funding we will never drive the Apprenticeships Standards upwards.
Wendy Vickers 20 September 2016 We support the campaign wholeheartedly! Apprenticeships will end up being for the Elite and young people not getting A* grades will be left behind!
Janet Paterson 20 September 2016 I fully support this campaign; 16-18 year olds need to have full access to funding to continue to develop their employability skills and maintain the Apprenticeship brand.
Tim Porter 20 September 2016 I support this Campaign. Apprenticeships for young people are critical to the future economy of the UK and the skills base should be valued accordingly.
Elaine Withycombe 20 September 2016 I support this campaign! The proposed changes will ruin the employers confidence in the apprenticeships.
Amanda Pavon-Lopez 20 September 2016 Let’s not sleepwalk into another set of problems. I support this campaign
Steve Roberts 20 September 2016 It is imperative we all get behind this important campaign! In one breadth the Government wants to increase apprenticeships to 3 million by 2020, in the next breath they make cut’s to funding available to young people and business by complicating the funding model for apprenticeship training that underpins the ongoing development of upskilling a talented young work force. The previous Skills Minister stated this; apprenticeships to be given equal legal treatment as degrees commitment to create 3 million apprenticeships by 2020 will be enshrined in law public sector bodies will be set targets to help reach 3 million The term ‘apprenticeship’ will be protected in law, the government has announced today (14 June 2015). This will strengthen their reputation, help working people and ensure apprenticeships are recognised as a career path equal to higher education. With over 2.2 million apprenticeships created since 2010 to help establish the UK as the fastest growing economy in the G7, the government will also enshrine in law its commitment to create 3 million apprenticeships by 2020. With apprenticeships giving hope and opportunity to more young people, and helping all types and sizes of businesses grow in communities across the UK, the Skills Minister will legally protect the term ‘apprenticeship’ through the Enterprise Bill. This will give government the power to take action when the term is misused to promote low quality courses. To ensure that more young people can benefit the minister has also announced that public bodies will now be set targets to take on more apprentices. Schools, hospitals, prisons and police forces will all be creating opportunities for young people to get on. Skills Minister Nick Boles said: If university graduates have their moment in the sun so should people who undertake apprenticeships. Businesses know their value so it’s high time they were recognised both by the public and in law as being equal to degrees. We want far more employers to get involved in apprenticeships. This means making sure that we practise what we preach in government, so we’re going require all public sector bodies – schools, hospitals, prisons and police forces – to employ apprentices. Promises? Steve Roberts Cornwall Apprenticeship Agency (ATA)
Paul Wickes MBE 20 September 2016 I fully support this campaign. Nationally, 92% of SMEs have never employed an Apprentice. In order to hit and exceed the 3 million target and improve the UK economy further we need SMEs to engage with Apprenticeships, so a reduction in training funding for this critical age group is wholly counter-productive. SMEs can engage with Apprenticeships, especially using the ATA model which reduces risk and costs for SMEs. Maintain the funding and help SMEs to engage. Paul Wickes CEO Cornwall Marine Network & Cornwall Apprenticeship Agency
Karen Friendship 20 September 2016 Totally support this campaign. These funding cuts in particular to young people will limit their choices and dis-incentivise employers. We need young STEM apprentices to support our business and this is doing the exact opposite.
Jo McCabe 20 September 2016 I fully support this campaign, we need apprenticeships for young people, it is critical to the future economy of the UK.
Carolyn howard 20 September 2016 I support this campaign – providers will not be able to deliver a worthwhile qualification on a 50% cut in funding. It will have a massive effect on our industry.
Lesley Ellis 20 September 2016 Of course I support this campaign. Cuts to apprenticeship funding are a danger to people’s mobility and a threat to the skill base of this country.
Jeremy Rabinovitch 20 September 2016 I fully support this campaign. As a workplace co-ordinator in the construction sector responsible for recruiting apprentices, we need as many people as possible to get the message accross. I am happy to help and support this campaign.
Tim Bowerbank 20 September 2016 I support this campaign! Come on UK government – the young are the future strength of this country; give them at least the same funding benefits you had, or even better… greater opportunities than you had!
Clair Schafer 20 September 2016 I support this campaign. Is there a hidden agenda around taking 16 – 18 out of the Apprenticeship arena and keeping them in full time education with Apprenticeships only being offered to 19+?
Alison Whittle 20 September 2016 I support this campaign. Again, it’s the more disadvantaged groups that will suffer. Our young people need every bit of support to help them achieve.Removing funding from accessible apprenticeships serves only to provide more barriers to employment!!!
Tania 20 September 2016 I support this campaign. Apprentices offer a future for a variety of learners. They are an invaluable asset to the economy as well as personal and professional development.
Rob Colbourne 20 September 2016 I support the campaign – although encouraged by Halfons comments, there is clearly still a lack of understanding regarding apprenticeships; they are not just for the hard to help and please start with Training Providers contribution to apprenticeships rather than finishing with us as an after thought!
Alex Ford 20 September 2016 Can you imagine the meltdown if the government proposed cuts of 50% to A-Levels? It would be on the front page of every paper and probably break the internet. I fully support this campaign.
Mandi Hartney 20 September 2016 I support this campaign wholeheartedly! We all need to survive and upskill our country; if this goes ahead it will have the opposite effect and will close down many provisions and be detrimental to all involved; providers, employers and most of all our young people. Please do the sensible thing!
Sarah Teehan 20 September 2016 I support this campaign. The funding needs to remain the same. Who thinks of these ideas? Do they even know how it all works? If the proposed methods go through then in a few years time we will be picking up the pieces of apprenticeships, the quality will have dropped dramatically, and there will be an influx of qualified yet under skilled youngsters trying to find work. We are setting them up to fail as the monitoring of quality is not going to be robust enough.
Pauline Brooker 20 September 2016 I support this campaign, and agree with all the comments above. The cuts will be hugely damaging and disadvantage many young people
Paul Riley 20 September 2016 I support this campaign. Cuts at this level will have far reaching consequences for the life chances of thousands of young people and must not be implemented.
Sarah Bleackley 20 September 2016 I fully support this campaign – Apprenticeships need to be given much more value and respect from the Government.
Sue Burgess 20 September 2016 I fully support this campaign. Apprenticeships are vital to support young peoples futures. Funding cuts will undermine this process and must not happen. Apprenticeships are the only way to learn a chosen vocational so funding should and must be available for training providers. What is the point of teaching full time students with no end product? 90% of full time vocational students fail to gain employment in their chosen vocations.Apprenticeships offer opportunities and career pathways. Let`s hope that somebody within the government has the strength of character to support and fight for this critical, vital and worthwhile cause.
Bianca Catten 21 September 2016 I support this Campaign. These cuts will be devastating for apprenticeships. Training providers like us will have years hard work engaging young people and employers undone and it will be a very sad day.
Sue Carr 21 September 2016 I fully support this campaign. Apprenticeships are vital in supporting young people into the world of hairdressing training.
Calum Macpherson 21 September 2016 I support this campaign, the Government should demonstrate its commitment to its own 3 million target and U-turn this decision. At the same time, restore full funding to SME’s, the new 10% regulations will cost more to administer than they make.
Janet Bolton 22 September 2016 I support this Campaign. There are many very good training providers that work very hard to maintain and improve the quality of hairdressing training to give young people an enjoyable successful career. These cuts will mean that many providers will not be able to continue which means the quality and success of apprenticeships as a whole, for young people will suffer.
Michelle 22 September 2016 I support this campaign! I work with young people who did not get on well at school, so college and sixth form is not an option. Apprenticeships are the best path for them and there are too few places out there as it is! These cuts will be devastating for our young people, as there will not be enough apprenticeships for practical learners, forcing them to take a more academic route, thus setting them up to fail.
Shirley Davis-Fox MBE 26 September 2016 I support this campaign – the Hair Industry employs 1% of the adult working population within the UK. The cuts in funding will dramatically cut the number of apprenticeships.
Gareth Jones 22 September 2016 Totally support the campaign. Potentially massive impact of learners and Apprenticships in my local area
Deborah A 22 September 2016 I support this campaign – It gives alternative route into industry for those that are less likely to go to university or disadvantaged due to the rising costs of education to allow them into creative industries and creates entry points to barriers.
Shirley Davis-Fox MBE 26 September 2016 I support this campaign – the proposed cuts in funding will dramatically cut the number of apprenticeships within the Hair Industry, which employs 1% of the adult working population within the UK.
Tricia Hartley 27 September 2016 I support this campaign. This Government has made a public commitment to improving social mobility: this certainly isn’t the way to do it! They need to rework their calculations to make sure that young people get the support they need.
Roz May 27 September 2016 I fully support this campaign, not only are the funding cuts going to impact massively on the sector they could deter recruitment of the age group. The whole system being proposed is in danger of setting apprenticeships in this county back by 20 years or so. The government need to have a complete rethink of the whole system but they need to listen to people who are involved in the sector and understand how it works, why is it that every time training in this country (whether it is apprenticeships or another route) is working then along comes someone who throws it all in the air and says lets start again, this will not encourage economic viability it just cause confusion and disillusion both for learners and for providers.
Hilary Hall 27 September 2016 The National Hairdressers Federation, which represents 5000+ employers in the hairdressing, barbering and beauty sector, supports this campaign. The funding cuts will reduce take-up for hairdressing apprenticeships on the current frameworks which are currently around 10,000 per year. To beat the funding rules, new standards, assessment plans and qualifications are being rushed through at level 2, but standards are not yet available for level 3.
William Howarth 27 September 2016 I strongly support the campaign. Thank you Nick for bringing the nations attention to the issues you have raised.
christine Offredy 29 September 2016 I support this campaign. Young people are facing a difficult future and we need to support their career development adequately.