Responding to government announcements on changes to apprenticeships, Alison Morris, Director of Policy at Skills Federation, welcomes the proposals for greater flexibilities, but reports growing concern among members about the lack of clarity surrounding the proposed foundation apprenticeships.
In an exclusive article for FE News, Alison argues that the concept of foundation apprenticeships has been met with mixed reactions from employers.
She says, “If foundation apprenticeships are intended to be introductory, they won’t necessarily lead to occupational competence, which is of vital importance for employers.”
In the article, she features the views of Ann Watson, CEO of Enginuity, who argues:
“There is a risk that foundation apprenticeships will fall flat if they are not designed to fill an existing skills demand gap – there’s little point developing a product that doesn’t fit neatly into an already complex system.”
Alison states that foundation apprenticeships may have a role to play, but there may be other more suitable solutions. She says:
“Whether foundation apprenticeships will provide a much-needed route into work for young people, or end up being the wrong solution to the right question, will depend on how they are scoped and implemented. To ensure success, we would urge that government works in partnership with sector skills bodies to create a flexible solution that works for both employers and individuals.”
Read the full article here
