Panorama investigation into apprenticeships sparks sector-wide response

The government and leading membership bodies have responded to “The Great Apprentice Scandal” Panorama programme broadcast on Monday.

David Way, chief executive of the National Apprenticeship Service, said yesterday he was “very concerned” for the apprentices affected on the programme and would be tackling any training providers who are not “up to scratch.”

“I am very concerned for the apprentices who appear to have been seriously misled by poor quality training providers and would like to reassure current and future apprentices and their families that we are committed to making sure their experiences are as good as they can possibly be,” he said.

“We are clear that all Apprenticeships should offer employment, new learning and a nationally recognised qualification and where apprentices have been let down this isn’t good enough.”

Mr Way added: “Where there are problems with training providers or quality isn’t up to scratch we tackle this vigorously.

“The NAS and Skills Funding Agency are aware of all of the cases raised in the programme and we have been working closely with these providers for some time to address and resolve the issues raised and ensure the best outcome for learners.”

The new interim chief executive also defended the apprenticeship scheme run at Morrisons, which was criticised in the Panorama programme for delivering training which would have occurred with or without government funding.

“We will continue to work with employers of all sizes and sectors who, like Morrisons, make a vital commitment to Apprenticeships – they offer employment opportunities and develop the skills of new and existing employees including those who don’t have functional literacy and numeracy skills,” Mr Way said.

“This investment in skills benefits the employer and supports economic growth.”

The Association of Employment and Learning Providers (AELP) has emphasised that lead contractors need to be responsible and accountable not only for the apprenticeships they deliver directly, but also the provision of any sub-contractors which they use.

Graham Hoyle, chief executive of the AELP, said yesterday: “No young person or adult should experience poor provision under the apprenticeship programme and AELP has always fostered a culture of good quality among its member providers.

“This explains why we have always been so keen to work closely with Ofsted and quality improvement services such as LSIS, as well as with the NAS and SFA who are responsible for the flagship skills programme.”

Mr Hoyle added: “None of the sub-contractors featured in the Panorama programme are AELP members, but we believe that while it is a legitimate business practice, sub-contracting is an issue which requires action now.

“The AELP position is that lead contractors, whether they are colleges or independent providers, should not only be fully responsible for the quality of their own directly-delivered apprenticeship provision but they should also be strongly accountable for the provision of their sub-contractors.

“After all, they are sometimes taking significant ‘management fees’ in the process which is public money. We welcome the new SFA pilot which may encourage those that wish it to become directly contracted with the agency so that the lines of accountability are more clearly drawn.”

The Association of Colleges (AoC) say most apprenticeship schemes are of high quality and that any poor or questionable delivery is only “at the fringes.”

Martin Doel, chief executive of the AoC, said yesterday: “The apprenticeship model is fundamentally a good one, as we have seen in the UK and other countries, and AoC agrees with John Hayes MP, Minister for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning, that the focus must continue to be on quality.

“Apprenticeships delivered by our member Colleges are done so with integrity, are of a high standard and are verified by Ofsted.

“Colleges are not-for-profit organisations which serve their communities for the long-term; it is not in their interests to provide poor quality education.”

Mr Doel added: “When there is significant investment and growth in a nationwide training scheme there will inevitably be a few sophisticated operators who try to play the system.

“If there are legitimate questions raised about the quality of any employer or training provider, then they need to be thoroughly investigated by the relevant Government agencies.

“It is imperative that the strong reputation of apprenticeships is maintained; to do that any element of poor quality, however marginal, needs to be eradicated.”

The 157 Group agree that further education colleges are delivering high quality apprenticeships valued by learners and businesses.

Lynne Sedgmore CBE, executive director of the 157 Group said yesterday: “Colleges deliver high quality apprenticeships which provide young people with the skills and experience needed to progress into skilled employment.

“The Government and FE Minister John Hayes is right to champion their cause as they enable learners to both learn and earn at the same time and they should be taken up more widely.”

Marilyn Hawkins, chair of the 157 Group, added: “It is crucial that we do not undermine the true value and worth of apprenticeships and all that they offer to learners.

“In our Apprenticeships case studies launched last May there is a wonderful selection of best practise examples of employer, college and apprentice partnerships and it is this we should be highlighting to encourage greater investment from employers.

The full response from David Way (NAS) can be read here.
The full response from Graham Hoyle (AELP) can be read here.
The full response from Martin Doel (AoC) can be read here.
The full response from the 157 Group can be read here. 

FE colleges to be directly funded for pre-16s in 2013


Further education (FE) and sixth form colleges could be funded for 14 to 16 year-olds on a similar basis to schools from 2013.

The Department for Education (DfE) is proposing to fund FE colleges using a “simplified local funding formulae” managed by the Education Funding Agency (EFA) from the 2013/14 academic year.

The new proposals are detailed in the ‘School funding reform: Next steps towards a fairer system’ consultation document, published by the DfE on March 26.

“With effect from 2013 and following Professor Alison Wolf’s review of vocational education, FE and Sixth Form Colleges will be able to make full time provision for 14-16 year olds,” the consultation document reads.

“We need to ensure that there is a fair and effective means of funding this.”

It later adds: “FE colleges making provision for 14-16 year olds should be funded so far as possible in the same way as schools in the local area.

“From 2013-14, we think this will mean using the simplified local funding formulae arrangements.”

The DfE plan to use four of the existing 37 formula factors, currently applied to schools through the “simplified local funding formulae”, for FE colleges in 2013:

a) the Age Weighted Pupil Unit (AWPU) for the relevant age group;
b) deprivation;
c) looked after children; and,
d) SEN.

The consultation document states: “The remaining factors relate to premises and the lump sum.

“These are needed for schools as the funding is for the whole institution.

“It would not be appropriate to include these factors for colleges because the funding is for small numbers of pupils at the margin of the institution’s activities.”

However, it is currently unclear how FE and sixth form colleges will apply for an allocation for this type of provision.

The consultation documents says the EFA will be responsible for calculating the funding for each institution, with payments being made “through the normal channels.”

Responses to the consultation document need to be submitted to the DfE by May 21.

(Read the consultation document, ‘School funding reform: Next steps towards a fairer system’  here.)

Top principal salaries detailed for 2010/11

The Skills Funding Agency has published a new version of the College Accounts 2010/11 spreadsheet detailing the salaries of every FE college principal.

The top ten salaries, shown above, contain some inaccuracies however.

Loughborough College has told FE Week the salary for their principal in 2010/11 was in fact £124,000.

A statement from the college reads: “The salary for the Principal of Loughborough College for 2010/11 reported as £242k in FE Week, 3rd April 2012, is incorrect.

“This figure (242k) represents the total salary for 2010/11 for the three senior postholders of the college.”

A spokesperson for Loughborough College told FE Week the reason for the inaccuracy was because of a mistake in their data submission.

The salary published by the SFA for the principal of Barnfield College is also said to be inaccurate.

“Pete Birkett is chief executive and principal of the Barnfield Federation, which is made up of more than Barnfield College alone,” a spokesperson for Barnfield College told FE Week.

“The Federation consists of an existing four academies, three subsidiary companies, the College and five new academies who will be joining the Federation before September.”

The spokesperson added: “The turnover for the Federation is circa £60 million.

“There is a shared contribution towards the salary shown, so the figures quoted should be viewed from a Federal perspective.

“Within the accounts there is a qualifying statement explaining this.”

Barnfield College says the correct salary for Mr Birkett should be £193,000, with an additional £15,000 in benefits.

Dr Lis Smith, principal of Preston College, has contacted FE Week and said the figure used for her salary is also inaccurate.

“The figure that has been quoted, is a figure which has been taken from the accounts which also includes the previous principal’s salary as well,” she said.

“So my salary is £120,000.”

Dr Lis Smith says the amount published by the SFA is in fact a consolidated amount due to an overlap with the previous principal last year.

Warwickshire College and Sussex Downs College have also contacted FE Week and said that their 2010/11 figures are inaccurate because of a handover period with former principals.

Sussex Downs College has clarified that their salary figure should be  “around £160,000.”

Warwickshire College, meanwhile, say their figure should be changed to £170,000.

Derby College has clarified that while the figures published for 2010/11 are correct, the 2009/10  figures have since been restated due to the college’s merger with South East Derbyshire College.

A spokesperson for Derby College told FE Week that the principal’s salary for 2009/10 was actually £185,000, with benefits in kind of £1,000 and pension contributions of £26,000.

The Newcastle College Group (NCG) has confirmed the salary published by the SFA is correct for Jackie Fisher, chief executive of NCG and not Bev Robinson, principal of Newcastle College.

A spokesperson for NCG said: “Her basic salary was £192,000 and the rest is bonus.

“The reason for the reduction of £29,000 was that Jackie Fisher was given a one off retention payment last year relating to the period August 2007 to July 2010.

“This payment was agreed by Governors to provide continuity and stability within NCG during a period of significant growth and development, NCG’s merger with Skelmersdale & Ormskirk College and the acquisition of Intraining.”

West Nottinghamshire College has also confirmed for FE Week the £205,000 figure is correct for 2010/11.

FE Week is continuing to contact colleges for confirmation of the published figures.

The College Accounts 2010/11 spreadsheet can be downloaded from the Skills Funding Agency website here.

The previous spreadsheet, detailing the College Accounts for 2009/10, can be downloaded here.

(Note: The table above has been created using government data and may include anomalies. FE Week will amend any data which is confirmed as inaccurate in the SFA spreadsheet.)

Call for re-evaluation of apprenticeships following Panorama programme

Image: Apprenticeships England founders Lindsay McCurdy (left) and Peter Cobrin (right) read FE Week

The largest independent group of people engaged in apprenticeships has called for a “root and branch re-evaluation” into how apprenticeships are regulated and administered by government.

A statement by Apprenticeships England, a movement with more than 5,000 members which originated on the social networking site LinkedIn, says: “It is far too easy for cowboy operations to flourish under this regime, often with the active connivance or at best the turning of a blind eye by ‘reputable’ institutions including some colleges.

“We call for a root and branch re-evaluation of the way apprenticeships are regulated and administered.”

The statement, issued by group founders Peter Cobrin and Lindsay McCurdy this morning, criticises the government’s management of the apprenticeship programme following the Panorama show “The Great Apprenticeship Scandal”.

“The current apprenticeship programme has been tarnished/damaged by confusion over policy, definition and administration from Government,” the statement reads.

“This was directly responsible for two of the items featured on Panorama last night – the Zenos training programme which only now does John Hayes disown as “not an apprenticeship”, and concerns over “excessive profits” made by some training providers thanks to a payment regime designed, implemented and administered by government and its agencies, the Skills Funding Agency and National Apprenticeship Service.”

The joint response later says the monitoring of training providers is “unfit for purpose” and also erratically administered, leading to a lack of confidence from within the further education sector.

The real question is what will the government do next, if anything.

The Panorama programme, which was broadcast on BBC One last night, interviewed a number of young people which had been let down by poor quality vocational training.

Kyle Emery, who enrolled on a painting and decorating apprenticeship delivered by Forward Thinking Training Solutions, said the scheme had virtually no training and was ultimately a vehicle for cheap labour.

“All it was, was here’s some paint and here’s a brush, crack on and don’t make a mess,” he said.

Other private training providers including Zenos and Elmfield Training were questioned by reporter Shelley Jofre for delivering apprenticeships within a short time frame or with large profit margins.

Mr Cobrin told FE Week however he believes the Panorama programme will have “little impact” because it focuses too heavily on historical case studies.

“There wasn’t any shock or scandal,” Mr Cobrin said.

“Everything they revealed, we knew about. The colleges turning a blind eye, the training providers milking the system, it was nothing new.”

He added: “The real question is what will the government do next, if anything.”

The Panorama programme featured the relationship between Morrisons supermarket, which has enrolled 40 per cent of its workforce on an apprenticeship, with the private training provider Elmfield Training.

The show highlighted how Gerard Syddall, company director and 95 per cent shareholder of Elmfield Training, used pre-tax profits of more than £12 million in the financial year ending September 2010 to pay himself dividends of almost £3 million.

Neil Lakeland, marketing manager at Hadlow College, tweeted: “Can’t believe the CEO of Elmfield Training got a £3m bonus for a Grade 3 satisfactory. Who needs bankers! #bbcpanorama”

Mr Syddall is said to be one of the speakers at the “Making Apprenticeships Work Even Better” conference, organised by Apprenticeships England and to be chaired by Nick Linford, managing editor of FE Week, in Leeds on July 7.

It follows a successful first conference, entitled “Making Apprenticeships Work”, held by the group in March.

IfL members with QTLS qualified to teach in schools

Institute for Learning (IfL) members with Qualified Teacher Leaning and Skills (QTLS) status have been recognised as being fully qualified to work in schools.

An amendment to the 2003 Regulations, outlined in number 431 of the Statutory Instruments 2012, means IFL members now have Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and can take up a permanent position without undergoing any further induction requirements.

Staff will also be paid on the qualified teachers’ pay scale provided they remain a member of the IfL.

Toni Fazaeli, chief executive of the IfL, said: “Teachers and trainers with the high-level professional status of QTLS will be able to teach flexibly across schools and colleges, and schools will be able to recruit specialists whose expertise and experience in their subject area is combined with expert teaching and a commitment to staying up to date through continuing professional development.

“For those who already have or will soon have QTLS, the change in legislation is good news.”

Almost 7,000 teachers and trainers in further eduction have obtained QTLS, however the IfL says that number is increasing all the time.

Ms Fazaeli added: “IfL has consistently made the case for the professionalism of our members and for QTLS to be recognised for teaching in schools settings as well as further education, for the benefit of young people’s learning.

“We gave evidence to the education select committee and to the Skills Commission inquiry into teacher training for vocational teachers, and our evidence to Professor Alison Wolf’s consultation in October 2010 was based on over 5,000 IfL members’ expertise in vocational teaching.

“It was a triumph for further education teachers and right and proper that the government chose to accept Professor Wolf’s recommendation that further education teachers with QTLS should be able to teach in schools.

“The national recognition of QTLS has been reflected in these new legislative changes for April 2012 onwards.”

Under the new legislation schools and local authorities will still be responsible for employing QTLS holders, and the IfL will continue to maintain the national register of QTLS holders.

The change follows a consultation by the Department for Education (DfE) which closed last December.

Minimum duration of 12 months unveiled for adult apprenticeships

Adult apprenticeships must take at least 12 months to complete from August this year, the skills minister has announced.

If an apprentice aged 19 or above has prior learning or attainment however, there will be an absolute minimum of six months for achieving a framework.

John Hayes MP, minister of state for further education, skills and lifelong learning, made the announcement on Sunday as part of major reforms to improve the quality of the apprenticeship programme.

“We must be relentless in our drive to ensure all apprenticeships are as good as the best, to identify and root out any instances of poor quality provision, and to raise the bar on standards,” Mr Hayes said.

“We are taking strong and decisive action to tackle short duration so all apprentices receive high quality training and workplace learning setting them on the road to a long, rewarding career.”

Apprenticeships for 16 to 18 year-olds will also need to last a minimum of 12 months following a similar announcement by Mr Hayes in the House of Commons last December.

“The momentum we have created by building the apprenticeship brand has brought about unprecedented success for the apprenticeship programme,” Mr Hayes said.

“The majority of apprenticeships are the gold standard in vocational training.

“They boost individuals’ life chances and build the skills that drive growth.”

The new length of delivery will be introduced following consultation with providers and employers.

There have been real concerns that the apprenticeship brand, which has long been cherished as the gold standard in vocational education, is at risk of being undermined with a spike in short-duration apprenticeships

The Association of Employment and Learning Providers (AELP) say they are disappointed with the announcement and will be using the consultation to ask the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) if short duration training can be funded through the Adult Skills Budget.

An AELP spokesperson said: “AELP has long been opposed in principle to any imposition of minimum course durations for apprenticeships, so the BIS announcement is a disappointment although the substance of it is obviously much more palatable than the top line in the BIS release.

“We will be using the consultation to seek reassurance that any valuable training that takes place within the 6 month period will attract funding from the flexible Adult Skills Budget.”

David Way, the new interim chief executive of the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS), says the new minimum duration will help reassure the sector about the quality of the apprenticeship programme.

“We need to ensure that all apprenticeships are high quality,” Mr Way said.

“By ensuring they last between one and four years, we are not only giving employers what they say they want but also giving confidence back to everyone who has questioned the growth in shorter apprenticeships.”

Training providers who want an adult apprentice to complete in less than 12 months will need to claim a reduced amount of funding and ensure all prior learning is recorded.

“We listened very carefully to messages from colleges and training providers at the National Quality Conference last week,” Mr Way added.

“A clear expectation has been set that an apprenticeship involves a significant amount of new learning delivered over sufficient time to practice and master skills in employment.

“There is greater flexibility here than for younger apprentices because older apprentices typically have more skills they have acquired.”

The minimum duration for adult apprenticeships follows concerns about short duration programmes, some delivered in as little as 12 weeks, by private training providers.

Duration is only one part of a complex set of issues. The quality of the experience for the apprentice and the employer, and the impact it has for both of them, is critical.

Gordon Marsden MP, shadow minister for further education, skills and regional growth, said: “There have been real concerns that the apprenticeship brand, which has long been cherished as the gold standard in vocational education, is at risk of being undermined with a spike in short-duration apprenticeships, a lack of new opportunities in traditional areas such as construction and engineering and worries that in-work training has often been re-labelled as apprenticeships under the Tory-led Government.”

Mr Marsden says the Labour party has put pressure on the coalition government and “succeeded in getting ministers to change their minds” about the minimum duration of adult apprenticeships.

“The Government now needs to work closely with all involved in the sector to ensure quality provision can continue and is supported under these new proposals,” Mr Marsden added.

“With more than one million unemployed young people, now more than ever we need an apprenticeship system that can provide opportunities and get people into work.”

The National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE) has welcomed the government’s emphasis on quality, but says more can be done to improve the programme both for learners and businesses.

David Hughes, chief executive of NIACE, said: “Duration is only one part of a complex set of issues.

“The quality of the experience for the apprentice and the employer, and the impact it has for both of them, is critical.

“The best employers use apprenticeships as part of their wider workforce development strategy and the apprenticeship is just the beginning of a career of lifelong learning opportunities for the employee.”

Panorama to focus on Zenos, Morrisons and subcontracting

Panorama will broadcast  ‘The Great Apprentice Scandal’ on BBC One at 8.30 tonight, and will focus on 16-18 IT apprenticeships delivered by Zenos (although not mentioned in their press release), Morrisons apprenticeships delivered by Elmfield Training and a number of apprenticeship subcontractors.

Read the Panorama press release below in full:

More than 1 in 10 of all apprenticeships created in England last year was with a single supermarket chain.  An investigation for BBC Panorama has found that nearly 4 in 10 of Morrison’s entire workforce are now classed as apprentices.

Norman Pickavance – Group HR Director at Morrison’s defends the high number, saying:

“Forty per cent of people are trying to get a basic qualification.  People who leave school without a qualification often feel that they don’t have access and don’t see the kind of skilled jobs or managerial positions as something they can aspire to”.

At a time of record unemployment, though, the programme asks whether that’s really an apprenticeship and if it’s a good use of taxpayers’ money.

Elmfield Training, the private company that accredits Morrisons’ apprentices has a government contract worth £37 million.  Elmfield made a profit of £12 million in 2010 and the company’s CEO, Ged Syddall, awarded himself a dividend of nearly £3 million.  Yet when the company was inspected by OFSTED recently, its training for Morrisons was rated as ‘satisfactory’, the second lowest rating possible.

The retail apprenticeship, which last year took an average of just six months to complete, has also been criticised by providers of more traditional apprenticeships.

Charlie Mullins – founder of Pimlico Plumbers – employs 18 apprentices out of a staff of 200. Their training takes a minimum of 3 years.  Mr Mullins says of short retail apprenticeships:

“I think all they’re really doing is undervaluing the word apprentice, and they’ve really just seen a loophole in the system that they can claim money on it.”

Nick Linford, Editor of FE Week, says: “We’ve seen record growth in apprenticeships.  Big headline numbers look great on paper but scratch under the surface and maybe we shouldn’t be calling them all apprenticeships.”

A huge rise in coalition government funding has seen the number of apprenticeships in England rise by 63% last year, to 450 000. Traditionally, FE colleges have been used to deliver off-the-job apprenticeship training.  Their teaching is subject to OFSTED inspections every 3 years.

Panorama however has discovered large number of training providers are able to slip through the inspection radar. As colleges struggle to find the capacity to cope with demand, there has been an increase in subcontracting to private training providers which are not subject to the same level of scrutiny. Panorama took a closer look at subcontractors with contracts worth more than £500,000 and found that £230,000,000 worth of work was given last year to companies who haven’t been inspected by OFSTED.

Forward Thinking Training Solutions, based in Basingstoke, is one such subcontractor that hasn’t been inspected.  The company was awarded £2.7 million in government contracts from 4 different colleges last year to train apprentices.  Although its background is in security training, Forward Thinking was contracted through Bournville College in Birmingham to deliver training for apprenticeships in painting and decorating.

18-year old Kyle Emery from Halesowen was one of 291 apprentices accepted onto the course last September.  Kyle says the training was virtually non-existent:

“Basically all it was, was ‘here’s some paint, here’s a brush, crack on, don’t make a mess’.  No one actually came in to teach us what we was doing.”

Kyle and all the other apprentices had their training cut short in January this year and Forward Thinking has now gone into administration.  Kyle says the apprenticeship was a waste of time.  He says:

“I should have either stopped on at college or got a proper job, not an apprenticeship.  The way I see it, it was just cheap labour”

Scott Upton, Vice Principal of Sandwell College in Birmingham, said a formal apprenticeship is the “gold standard of vocational training” and rushing candidates through an apprenticeship programme will devalue the entire system.

“When you get new entrants into the market wanting to put people through as quickly as possible without providing the highest quality, that’s got to be a cause for concern.”

At another firm, JML Dolman in Wolverhampton, Allan Middleton, who left the firm 5 weeks ago, was an internal verifier for apprentices.

Mr Middleton said he understood the company was being paid £9,000 for each apprenticeship completion award issued.

It was his job to verify the apprentices’ work had been done, which would allow JML Dolman to apply for more funding. He said he refused to do so but found evidence it was happening anyway.

In a statement, JML Dolman said there had been no deliberate attempt to deceive or mislead: “There were administrative failing which resulted in mistakes being made. These were genuine errors.

“As soon as these anomalies were identified…those responsible were dismissed and systems put in place to ensure there could be no recurrence of these problems.”

But a current employee has told the BBC that the problems still exist.

The whistleblower told the programme that paperwork obtained by Panorama that shows apprenticeships as complete, could not have been at the time they were signed because the firm did not employ an assessor then.

John Hayes MP, Minister for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning, says that the government will not tolerate subcontractors who’re delivering substandard apprenticeships.  He says:

“The crackdown on subcontractors that we are delivering will be relentless.  The character of subcontracting is something that I was sufficiently concerned about in order to insist that we tighten the screw.”

SFA to monitor growth in 25+ apprenticeships

The increase in apprentices aged 25 and above is to be monitored by the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) throughout the next academic year.

A briefing note published by the SFA on March 30, says: “We will monitor the pattern and volume of 25+ apprenticeship delivery in-year and will not award any growth for 25+ apprenticeship provision.”

The document also says the agency expects a “greater focus” from training providers on recruiting new apprentices aged between 19 and 24, rather than 25 and above, through the adult apprenticeship allocation.

“This will be supported by the roll-out of the new incentive payment for employers recruiting apprentices aged under 25 years,” the briefing note adds.

The announcement follows a new minimum duration of 12 months, for all apprentices aged 19 and above, unveiled by the skills minister John Hayes yesterday.

(Read the ‘Skills Funding Agency Final 2012/13 Allocations Methodology briefing note’ here)

Minister announces 12 month minimum apprenticeship for all ages

A BIS press release published today reads:

Tougher standards introduced by Skills Minister to drive up quality

Apprenticeships will last for a minimum of 12 months guaranteeing improvements in training and workplace learning, Skills Minister John Hayes announced today.

The new standards will come into force for all age groups from August 2012, subject to consultation with providers and employers, as a further measure to drive up quality.

For those aged 19 and over apprenticeships will last between one to four years unless prior learning or attainment has been recorded. Apprenticeships for 16-18 year olds will last a minimum of 12 months without exception.

Mr Hayes said:

“The momentum we have created by building the apprenticeship brand has brought about unprecedented success for the apprenticeship programme.

“The majority of apprenticeships are the gold standard in vocational training. They boost individuals’ life chances and build the skills that drive growth.

“They also provide a great return on public money. This has been independently recognised with the National Audit Office finding that apprenticeships generating £18 for the economy for every £1 spent.

“But we must be relentless in our drive to ensure all apprenticeships are as good as the best, to identify and root out any instances of poor quality provision, and to raise the bar on standards.

“We are taking strong and decisive action to tackle short duration so all apprentices receive high quality training and workplace learning setting them on the road to a long, rewarding career.”

David Way, Chief Executive of the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS), said:

“I am pleased that we have taken time to get the best possible way forward on apprenticeship duration so that we can ensure confidence in all apprenticeships. We listened very carefully to messages from colleges and training providers at the National Quality Conference last week.

“A clear expectation has been set that an apprenticeship involves a significant amount of new learning delivered over sufficient time to practice and master skills in employment. There is greater flexibility here than for younger apprentices because older apprentices typically have more skills they have acquired.

“We need to ensure that all apprenticeships are high quality. By ensuring they last between one and four years, we are not only giving employers what they say they want but also giving confidence back to everyone who has questioned the growth in shorter apprenticeships.”

This announcement builds upon a series of major reforms announced in recent months to drive up quality and standards and ensure every apprenticeship meets the rigorous standards apprentices and employers expect.

These include:

· National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) and the Skills Funding Agency’s comprehensive review of all short duration programmes has already resulted in significant improvements to many apprenticeships and the withdrawal of inadequate sub-contracted provision

· New safeguards are being put in place to strengthen monitoring, reporting and subcontracting arrangements, including requiring subcontractors to be regulated through the Register of Training Organisations in the same way as prime contractors

· New contracts will ensure that training providers not only act according to regulations, but also within the spirit of the apprenticeship programme

· A new ‘enquiry panel’ has been established, reporting directly to the Minister, to manage poor quality providers as soon as they are reported.

Also today a new grant to encourage small and medium sized businesses to take on apprentices will be made available.

The NAS is offering up to 40,000 Apprenticeship Grants to small and medium sized businesses (employing less than 250 employees), to the value of £1,500, that recruit their first apprentice aged 16 to 24 years old.