MPs back IMI calls for simplified process of apprenticeship creation

Gov urged to help employers understand their responsibilities under the Apprenticeship Levy system

MPs back IMI calls for simplified process of apprenticeship creation
IMI CEO, Steve Nash.

The Public Accounts Committee of the House of Commons (PAC) has recommended that the government adopt a much simpler approach to the setting up of the new apprenticeship Standards.

It echoes earlier calls from the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI), which believes that without urgent action the government’s three million target for apprenticeship starts by 2020 is unachievable.

The cross-party committee that oversees all government policy and spending plans identified the complexity of the process required to create and approve the employer led “standard” as an obstacle likely to derail government apprenticeship plans.

The PAC recommends that that the Department for Education (DfE) “should streamline the process for devising, implementing and reviewing standards.”

Currently, to create a standard apprenticeship for a work discipline like accident repair or motorcycle maintenance, a group of ten employers must agree a draft plan for the apprenticeship.

It must be approved by the DfE before the ten employers go away and develop it, a process which can take up to two years based on existing new standards.

The DfE then has to approve the developed plan before prospective end point assessment (EPA) bodies have to apply and to be approved by the DfE.

The IMI warns that there are currently not enough EPAs for the new standards based apprenticeships that are available now.

‘Slicker process is required’

Steve Nash, IMI CEO, said: “The recommendation from the PAC for the government to simplify the new apprenticeship process is welcome.

“Whilst we have a number of new standards under development there are only a couple which are actually finalized and this falls well short of meeting the broad requirements of our sector.

“It was originally predicted that 1,600 standards would be in existence by 2017, but given the complexity and time taken to initiate and complete the process, the government have now moved this target out to 2020, so it’s clear that a slicker process is required.”

“In the meantime, if the government’s target for three million apprentice starts within this parliament is to be achieved, there will still be some reliance on the old SASE framework based apprenticeships.

“However, because of funding cuts these are looking considerably less viable, despite the funding revisions recently announced by the DfE following vociferous protests by a great many organizations, not least ourselves.

“This is leading to many businesses holding back on apprentice recruitment.

“The quicker the transition can be made to the new standards the better, but that will only happen when the processes are improved.”

Find out more about the IMI by following the ‘more details’ link below.

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