A recent analysis reveals that the number of individuals under 19 years old beginning apprenticeships dropped by over 25% in the final seven years of the Conservative Party’s leadership. The Trades Union Congress (TUC) reported a 26% decline in starting rates for under 19s and a 15% decrease for 19-24-year-olds between 2017 and 2024. Moreover, the achievement rates plummeted by 44% for under 19s and 31% for 19-24-year-olds during the same period.
According to the TUC’s separate study, the percentage of 16-18-year-olds who left school or college in 2022/23 for work, further education, or training and did not complete or continue it rose to 14.8%, up from 12.9% in 2017-18. The dropout rate was notably higher at 25.9% for young individuals with special educational needs and 26.8% for those on free school meals.
The TUC emphasized the concerning trend of missed opportunities for young people during the 14 years under the Tory administration, calling for urgent apprenticeship reforms. The Labour party has introduced a youth guarantee initiative to address the failures of the previous government. Labour leader Keir Starmer aims to enhance opportunities for children, shifting focus from a university target to a new goal of 50% of young individuals pursuing university, further education, or high-quality apprenticeships by age 25.
In a recent announcement, the Government proposed a new growth and skills levy to replace the existing apprenticeship levy, incorporating new foundation apprenticeships. This updated levy is designed to support shorter apprenticeships, offering increased flexibility for learners and employers compared to the current system.
The TUC urged ministers to expand the reach of the new levy, currently applicable to only 2% of employers, in the upcoming Budget session. This expansion aims to incentivize more employers to invest in training and hire apprentices, benefiting both the workforce and addressing youth unemployment. TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak highlighted the need for significant reforms in apprenticeships to provide young people with valuable work experience, emphasizing the long-term benefits of such investments.
