The government's response to the Covid-19 pandemic over the last more than 18 months has involved attempts to tackle the consequences of the pandemic for education and training, and for the labour market. Students were forced to study at home, work experience placements were cancelled and apprenticeships were paused, delaying learning and career progression for thousands of young people and adults. Plan for Jobs schemes like Kickstart, traineeships and Skills Bootcamps aimed to address these issues: but are they potentially having a negative knock-on effect on apprenticeships?

This session will explore the current state of play for apprenticeships, including the crowding of the technical provision landscape, with apprenticeships, T levels and some of the Plan for Jobs schemes competing for employers and students. This includes discussing how we can ensure that apprenticeships don’t get deprioritised; how the demographics of apprentices might have changed over the last few years, and how we can ensure that apprenticeships are boosting social mobility and accessible to people of all ages/from all backgrounds; and what challenges remain for apprenticeship delivery at the moment, including the support needed for SMEs.

The event will be chaired by Nick Fletcher MP (Con, Don Valley).

Speakers will include:

• Paul Warner, Director of Strategy and Business Development, Association of Employment and Learning Providers
• James Wingerath, Commercial Director, Youth Employment UK
• Clare Fraser, Head of Public Affairs, City & Guilds
• Steve Radley, Strategy and Policy Director, CITB

If you are interested in attending this session, please email Megan Hector at megan.hector [at] policyconnect.org.uk.