Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what additional support his Department offers to areas with low university attendance to encourage young people to take apprenticeships of NVQ level 3 or above.

Our reforms continue to improve the quality of apprenticeships at all levels, providing the skills that employers need. We have already seen the numbers of starts at higher levels (level 4 and above) rise by 12.5 per cent so far this year, compared to the same period last year. We are seeing a healthier balance across all levels, helping people of all ages progress to higher skills.

We provide funding to support all young people access apprenticeships. To encourage the employment of young apprentices, the government provides £1,000 payments to both employers and providers when taking on a 16 to 18 year old apprentice. The government also pays 100 per cent of the cost of training for small employers (fewer than 50 employees) who take on a 16 to 18 year old apprentice. This also applies to 19 to 24 year olds who were in care or who have an Education, Health and Care plan. In addition, from August 2018, we are introducing a bursary for care leavers starting apprenticeships. This bursary will be £1,000, available to all care leavers aged 16 to 24 year olds and paid direct to them.

Apprenticeships disproportionately benefit people from lower socio-economic backgrounds – delivering more, better quality, apprenticeships will ensure that more people from these backgrounds are enabled to gain the skills and training they need to build successful careers. We provide additional funding support for individuals from disadvantaged areas, by providing a cash payment to providers for training apprentices on frameworks who live in the top 27 per cent of deprived areas.

We are increasing the take up of degree apprenticeships through the Degree Apprenticeship Development Fund, by funding projects that include encouraging participation of under-represented groups in disadvantaged areas.

To promote apprenticeships and encourage take up at all levels, we are targeting employers, parents and young people using proven channels: radio adverts, digital advertising, social media and telemarketing activity. The latest phase of our ‘Get in Go Far’ marketing campaign will launch shortly. We are also taking specific actions to increase starts in the 16 to 18 age group; undertaking sales and marketing activities, targeting employers most likely to offer apprenticeships to this group, and working with organisations that provide careers advice.

The National Apprenticeship service has developed the ‘Amazing Apprenticeships’ website and apprenticeship resource portal for schools and teachers. It also offers a free service to schools through the Apprenticeship Support and Knowledge project to ensure that teachers have the knowledge and support to enable them to promote apprenticeships to their students.