Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the Answer of 12 January 2016 to Question 20474, how his Department works with businesses in the (a) construction, planning and the built environment sector subject area and (b) engineering and manufacturing technologies sector subject area to create more apprenticeships.

Skills policy is a devolved area so the Devolved Administrations have complete flexibility over how to support businesses in all sectors to ensure there are sufficient skilled workers. In England, our 2020 Vision sets out how we will reach 3 million apprenticeship starts in 2020.

We are also introducing the apprenticeships levy to fund the step change in apprenticeship numbers and quality – delivering on our commitment of 3 million starts by 2020. The levy will put apprenticeship funding on a sustainable footing and improve the technical and professional skills of the workforce.

We are supporting the growth of apprenticeships in all sectors by working with large and small businesses to begin or expand their programmes, setting new expectations for public sector bodies, and through public procurement. We are providing £85 million to extend the Apprenticeship Grant for Employers (AGE), which supports small businesses to take on apprentices, to the end of the 2016/17 academic year.

Employers in both of these specific sectors are heavily involved in designing new apprenticeship standards that fully meet their needs. Employers in the construction sector are involved in developing new apprenticeships standards in over 20 occupations, including site management and construction technician. Those in the advanced manufacturing and engineering sector are involved in developing new apprenticeship standards in over 30 occupations, including aerospace engineer and manufacturing engineer.