News story: Institute for Apprenticeships to ensure quality skills training

The new Institute for Apprenticeships will start its first official working day today (3 April 2017).

Independent from government, the institute, which is to be chaired by Antony Jenkins, has been launched to ensure that all apprenticeships are top quality and deliver the skills that employers need. It will further support the government’s commitment to deliver 3 million quality apprenticeships by 2020.

High-quality apprenticeships are an important part of the government’s plan for Britain and the institute marks an important milestone in working with businesses to invest in the home grown-skills our country needs.

To ensure employers are at the heart of every decision, the institute has appointed leading figures in the business world to sit on its board. This will ensure that employers needs are being met and they have the opportunity to review and challenge apprenticeship standards and how apprenticeships are assessed.

Skills and Apprenticeships Minister Robert Halfon said:

I am delighted that today marks the first working day of the Institute for Apprenticeships. This is a key part of the jigsaw that will ensure employers get the skills their workforce needs.

With the apprenticeship levy coming into force later this week, we are truly working together with business to invest in home-grown skills and ensuring people of all ages and all backgrounds get their foot on the ladder of opportunity.

Chair of the Institute for Apprenticeships Antony Jenkins said:

The institute is now formally up and running. As an employer-led organisation we will be well informed and responsive to the evolving skills that they need to succeed and that our apprentices need to fulfil their potential.

The institute launches ahead of the apprenticeship levy coming into force on Thursday (6 April 2017). The levy will double the annual investment in apprenticeships to £2.5 billion by 2019 to 2020. This will ensure that every person, regardless of their background, gets the chance they deserve to succeed.

Latest figures show that there is currently the highest numbers of apprenticeships on record with 900,000 apprentices last year alone. 90% of apprentices get employment or progress to additional education.