Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many colleges in England provide the Level 2 Cities and Guilds Apprenticeship qualification for Trees and Timber; and what guidance his Department has issued to Further Education providers on promoting that qualification in the past two years.

28 separate apprenticeship providers in England had learners who participated on the City and Guilds Apprenticeship framework for Trees and Timber between the academic years 2014/15 to 2018/19, of which 23 were colleges.[1][2] One of these providers - Guildford College of Further and Higher Education – is located in Kent.

Guidance has not been issued to Further Education providers on promoting this qualification, as the department does not actively promote qualifications from particular awarding organisations, or specific apprenticeship standards and frameworks, but make a range of qualifications available for providers to deliver within policy and funding rules, and in response to student, employer and local and skills needs.

Our apprenticeship reforms are supporting employers in all sectors to make a long-term, sustainable investment in the skills that they need to grow. New apprenticeship standards at all levels are being designed and driven by industry to meet their current and emerging skills needs.

[1] The data source is the Individualised Learner Record (ILR) and is published at the following links:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/848363/Apprenticeship_Participation_1415_1819_final_v0.2.xlsx.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/848508/Underlying_data_Apps_participation.zip.

[2] Data will include all funded learners reported on the ILR.