Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what measures they are taking to increase (1) the availability, and (2) the take-up, of part-time apprenticeships.

In May 2017 we amended apprenticeships funding rules (attached) to allow more flexibility in working arrangements. The new rules place emphasis on ensuring apprentices have enough hours in their working week to undertake sufficient and regular training and on-the-job activity, rather than being overly prescriptive on the number of hours apprentices must work. If the circumstances for a particular learner mean they are unable to undertake an apprenticeship in full-time hours (30 hours or more per week), the employer and training provider can structure the apprenticeship with fewer weekly hours and a longer overall duration to ensure all of the necessary training and assessment can be carried out.

The department is undertaking a range of ongoing communications and engagement activity to encourage the take-up of apprenticeships. A new phase of our communications campaign starts in early 2018 to encourage employers to offer high quality apprenticeship opportunities and to promote these to potential apprentices. This will build on the National Apprenticeship Service’s ongoing engagement and communications activity to increase awareness and promote benefits of apprenticeships among employers and learners.

The government will continue to work with employers to ensure that the apprenticeships funding system meets employers’ skills needs.

We meet regularly with employers and providers to get feedback on the new funding system, introduced in May 2017, including through the Apprenticeships Stakeholder Board.