A Labour scheme targeting youth unemployment is under fire as only 160 young Britons have taken on apprenticeships under the Government’s “skill revolution”.
In the first eight months since its launch, fewer than 200 roles have been filled as part of the flagship initiative, which is aimed at getting around one million NEETs (not in education, employment or training) into work.
The low uptake, revealed in a new Fabian Society report, has prompted the Labour-affiliated think tank to warn that the Government’s much-vaunted “skills revolution” is at serious risk of collapse.
Ministers unveiled what they described as “radical skills reforms” in May last year, with foundation apprenticeships — paid positions for young adults combining work with a minimum of eight months’ training.
Labour’s flagship apprenticeship scheme has only seen 160 youths enter the workforce in eight months
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GETTY
Analysis by the Fabians found that apprenticeships among under-25s have fallen roughly 40 per cent compared with a decade ago.
Across England, approximately 308,000 people have begun apprenticeships of all types in the current academic year, a nine per cent rise on the previous period.
Yet more than half of those places went to over-25s, with under-19s accounting for just a fifth of all starts. Experts warn that Britain risks creating a “lost generation” as young people shoulder the heaviest burden of rising joblessness.
Around one in eight are now NEET, a proportion growing faster than in comparable nations, driven by worsening mental ill health and a decelerating labour market.
While the NEETs has fallen from recent highs, numbers remain close to one million | ONS
Youth unemployment among 16 to 24-year-olds remains close to 16 per cent | GETTY
A survey of more than 2,000 businesses found that awareness of A-levels and GCSEs stood at 83 per cent and 85 per cent , respectively.
Furthermore, just 24 per cent had good knowledge of T-levels and a mere 16 per cent understood the Government’s planned V-levels, designed to combine academic study with practical learning.
Joe Dromey, the Fabian Society’s general secretary, said: “The Prime Minister is right to make getting more young people into skilled work a priority.
“But setting the ambition is not enough if the route into an apprenticeship does not work.”
The think tank argued that the traditional academic pathway remained far simpler to navigate than the fragmented vocational system.
Sheila Flavell CBE, COO of FDM Group, added: “Getting this population back in the workforce is critical for the future of the UK economy, so the government must work alongside industry to reengage young people who are NEET by facilitating alternative pathways into employment.
“Incentivising businesses through subsidies to train and hire young people can be an effective way forward for the government, as it encourages industry investment in the skills development of people who are NEET, providing them with gainful employment which in turn contributes to the UK economy.”
“The Milburn Review estimates the cumulative annual cost of 1 million NEET young people at £125 billion. This is more than the UK’s annual spend on education.”
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has pledged to make overhauling technical education and apprenticeships central to his agenda for boosting youth employment and spreading opportunity nationwide.
A Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) spokesperson said: “We are determined to increase apprenticeship starts among young people and give them the skills they need to succeed.”
The Government pointed to measures already under way, including the creation of 50,000 extra apprenticeship places for young people and a new financial incentive worth up to £2,000 for small and medium-sized enterprises hiring apprentices aged 16 to 24.
“Our £2.5billion investment in youth employment will create nearly one million jobs and training opportunities, including vital early work experience, and further reform will follow the Milburn review this autumn,” the spokesperson added.