Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to increase awareness of the available post-16 apprenticeship options among parents, teachers and pupils.

The Government is undertaking a range of activities to increase awareness of the available post-16 apprenticeship options among parents, teachers and pupils.

The four-year ‘Get In Go Far’ campaign, which launched in May 2016, aims to influence public perceptions, awareness and attitudes towards apprenticeships as a route into a successful career. It also aims to help young people aged 14-24 get the skills they need and encourage more young people to apply and more employers to offer apprenticeship opportunities.

Schools have a statutory duty to provide independent careers guidance for 12-18 year olds, including information about apprenticeships. The National Careers Service provides independent, professional advice on careers, skills and the labour market, including information on the benefits of apprenticeships and how to apply for vacancies. The Careers and Enterprise Company has a lead role in transforming the provision of careers, enterprise and employer engagement experiences for young people to inspire them and prepare them for the world of work. Apprenticeships are an essential part of this inspiration and preparation, which the Company are promoting through its nationwide Enterprise Adviser Network, which now has almost 1200 Advisers in place, and other programmes including its £5m 'Careers and Enterprise Investment Fund’.

The Skills Funding Agency (SFA) engages with schools to promote apprenticeships, including through the ‘Apprenticeship Support and Knowledge for Schools project’; ‘Apprenticeship Champions’ in schools across England, and the ‘Amazing Apprenticeships’ schools’ resources portal. The SFA Young Apprenticeship Ambassador Networks and Employer Ambassadors raise awareness of apprenticeships, partnering with UCAS to test the early advertising of higher and degree vacancies to Year 13 students applying for university.