Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking with the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to increase the number of apprenticeships in STEM professions.

We recognise the demand for science, technology, engineering, construction, digital and maths skills is increasing, which is why ensuring that anyone, regardless of their background, has the opportunity to pursue a career in a science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) occupation is a key priority for this government.

Apprenticeships are a great way for people to receive high quality training and begin, or progress in, a successful career in STEM. We have put employers at the heart of our apprenticeship system, empowering them to design the standards they need with the help of the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education. There are over 340 employer-designed apprenticeship standards in STEM, including Cyber Security Technician at level 3, and Civil Engineer (degree) at level 6.

It is encouraging to see that in the 2020/21 academic year, there were 78,100 apprenticeship starts in STEM, making up 24% of all apprenticeship starts that year.

We are continuing to promote apprenticeships in schools through the Apprenticeship Support and Knowledge programme and are working with our Apprenticeship Diversity Champions Network of influential employers such as Siemens, Bombardier and Rolls-Royce to promote best practices in recruiting and retaining people from all backgrounds in STEM apprenticeships.

We continue to engage with other government departments, including the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, to ensure that apprenticeships continue to meet the skill needs of all industries.