Engineering news
The decrease is part of a wider trend, with engineering-related apprenticeship starts 9% lower than 2014-15, despite a modest uptick last year.
Former Labour and Conservative ministers Lord Knight and Lord Willetts have today (11 January) launched an “urgent” inquiry with support from EngineeringUK, aiming to uncover the reasons behind the worrying decline in engineering, manufacturing and technology apprenticeships.
Given the growing demand for engineers and technicians, the inquiry will look to identify solutions that could help increase the number and diversity of young people taking up apprenticeships in the sector.
“Apprenticeships, especially in engineering and technology, enjoy enormous political and media support and are a crucial route into work for many people. Meanwhile the number of young people actually doing these apprenticeships is falling,” said Lord Willetts, inquiry co-chair and former Conservative minister for universities and science.
“Our inquiry will draw on expert evidence to understand why this is happening and what can be done about it, so that we can grow and sustain the opportunities that apprenticeships offer to young people.”
Lord Knight, inquiry co-chair and former Labour education and employment minister, said: “Britain must transition towards a more sustainable and productive economy. The skills shortage is a dragging anchor on that transition, particularly in key areas such as engineering. The fall in young people taking up engineering and technology apprenticeships is an urgent problem, and I am delighted to be working with David Willetts and EngineeringUK to fully investigate where the problems lie and what can be done to fix them.”
Employers, training providers, young people and those who work with them are all being urged to submit their views, evidence or ideas to the call for evidence, which is open until 27 February. The call is seeking opinions on the opportunities offered by apprenticeships, why they might be declining, barriers for business and potential solutions.
“Given the pressing need for more engineers and technicians in the UK, now and into the future, we urgently need more young people to start and complete apprenticeships in the sector,” said Hilary Leevers, chief executive of EngineeringUK.
“We therefore urge the sector, as well as youth training providers and organisations, to show their support for this important inquiry by sharing their experiences and suggestions for how to make engineering-related apprenticeships more available and accessible to young people. We hope the inquiry will open up conversations about how to break down barriers, inform effective policy making and widen opportunities for young people in engineering and technology careers.”
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