National Skills Academy Process Industries backs Government’s expansion on apprenticeships

Phil Black - PII Editor 26/01/2009

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THE head of the National Skills Academy Process Industries has welcomed the Government’s pledge to get a fifth of young people on an apprenticeship within the next decade.

The skills academy is backing Gordon Brown’s call for one in five young people to get on an apprenticeship within the next 10 years and 90,000 more within the next five.

The Government recently set out its plans to enable a massive expansion of apprenticeships, which included cash incentives for employers of at least £3,000.

Skills academy chief executive Phil Jones said: “We simply don’t have enough young people coming into the process industries and we need to look at all the methods at our disposal of changing that situation.

“This move is set to encourage thousands more young people, their parents and careers advisers to consider the good careers available in the chemicals, polymer and pharmaceutical industries. And the measures and financial incentives announced to help employers fund apprenticeships can only be welcomed.

“This extra support and funding will help employers to tap into a pool of talent and result in a workforce with the specific skills they need. We are encouraging employers to contact us to make sure they take advantage of the new support. We are already working in close partnership with a UK-wide range of employers, training providers and industry clusters and we are ideally placed to help.

“With an estimated 24,000 apprentices required over the next decade, long term skills development through apprenticeships designed to suit the needs of the process industries is vital to ensure their sustainable future.”

Today less than one in 15 of 16 to 18-year-olds is on an apprenticeship. While the number of people starting an apprenticeship has more than doubled since 1997, still just 10% of UK employers have apprentices.

The Government wants the best firms to train more apprentices and aspires to have national access to apprenticeships, much like there is to university places.

Phil Jones added: “We also welcome the support announced for larger companies to train apprentices for smaller companies in their supply chains and reform preparation courses so apprentices are ready to start making an effective contribution on their first day in the workplace.

“These new measures are set to help process industries companies develop and retain skills within their own industries.”

Employers looking for more information on apprenticeships should contact the skills academy via its website at www.process.nsacademy.co.uk.