A recent analysis revealed a significant decline in the number of individuals under 19 years old starting apprenticeships over the final seven years of Conservative governance. The Trades Union Congress (TUC) reported a 26% drop in apprenticeship start rates for under 19s and a 15% decrease for 19-24-year-olds between 2017 and 2024. Moreover, achievement rates plummeted by 44% for under 19s and 31% for the 19-24 age group during the same period.
According to additional TUC research, in 2022/23, 14.8% of 16-18-year-olds who transitioned from school or college to work, further education, or training did not complete or continue their endeavors, up from 12.9% in 2017-18. The dropout rate was notably higher at 25.9% for young people with special educational needs, and even more pronounced at 26.8% for those on free school meals.
The TUC emphasized the urgent need for apprenticeship reforms to address the persistent issue of missed opportunities for young individuals over the 14 years of Tory leadership. The union endorsed Labour’s youth guarantee initiative as a step towards rectifying past failures. Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, has prioritized providing enhanced prospects for young people and outlined a new target for 50% of youth to pursue university, further education, or high-quality apprenticeships by age 25.
In a move to revamp the apprenticeship system, the Government introduced a growth and skills levy to replace the existing apprenticeship levy and introduce new foundation apprenticeships. This levy aims to support shorter apprenticeships, granting learners and employers more flexibility in their training compared to the previous structure.
TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak urged government officials to broaden the new levy’s scope in the upcoming Budget, currently applicable to only 2% of employers. This expansion would incentivize more employers to invest in training and hire apprentices, benefiting both the workforce and combating youth unemployment. Nowak highlighted the necessity for ongoing apprenticeship reforms to provide real work experiences and paid opportunities to combat increasing rates of joblessness effectively.