Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure that the opportunity to undertake an apprenticeship is accessible to people from low-income backgrounds.

We are committed to ensuring that apprenticeships are as accessible as possible to all people from all backgrounds.

We are increasing numbers of traineeships to further support young people, including those from areas of disadvantage, into apprenticeships and further work.

We are encouraging a wide range of people from all backgrounds into apprenticeships – our ‘Get In Go Far’ campaign is aimed at 14-24 year-olds, their parents, teachers and employers. This major four-year campaign aims to influence public perceptions, awareness and attitudes towards apprenticeships as a route into a successful career, encouraging more young people to apply and more employers to offer apprenticeship opportunities.

To support employers to offer more apprenticeships, under the apprenticeship funding policy published in October, we announced extra payments for 16-18 year olds and 19-24 year olds formerly in care or with an Education, Health and Care Plan. Employers and providers will receive a payment of £1,000 to support additional costs associated with these apprentices. Additionally, the Government will make an additional payment to providers for training an apprentice who lives in an area amongst the 27% most deprived. The payments will be £600 for areas amongst the 1-10% most deprived, £300 for the next 11-20%, and £200 for the next 21-27%. These payments will be in place for one year whilst we review the system for supporting people from disadvantaged backgrounds.