Urgent action needed to fix apprenticeship levy and prevent ‘creeping rationing’ of training

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25 10 2019

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Government must urgently reform the apprenticeship levy and provide additional funding to prevent the loss of up to 75,000 apprenticeships at SMEs, according to new research from a leading research institute 

New data uncovered by Learning and Work Institute shows the assumptions that underpinned the apprenticeship levy are flawed. Large employers are using more of their levy funds than forecast, with the amount left for SMEs being only half as much as expected.  

On current trends, the levy could be over-spent by £1bn in the next year. This is despite the fact that the number of apprenticeships has been lower than expected. Apprenticeship starts have fallen by a fifth since the introduction of the levy, meaning the government are on course to miss the target they had set of 3 million apprenticeships by 2020 

The over-spend risks leading to a creeping rationing of apprenticeships at SMEsThree in four (74%) apprenticeship providers working with small firms said in a recent survey that the level of funding was insufficient to meet demand, with many being forced to reducor cease recruitment as a result. Learning and Work Institute analysis suggests that on current trends, this could mean up to 75,000 fewer apprenticeships at SMEs. 

The overspend is driven by two factors. First, there has been an exponential growth in higher and degree level apprenticeships – which tend to be far more expensive – as levy-paying employers seek to recoup as much of their funds as possibleIn the last two years the number of apprenticeship starts fell by a fifth, but the number of higher apprenticeships more than doubled, with the number of degree apprenticeships increasing by a factor of 12. Second, the new and more rigorous apprenticeship standards, introduced at the same time as the levy, are significantly more expensive than expected.  

 

Bridging the Gap: next steps for the apprenticeship levy

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These changes risk limiting opportunities for young people. SMEs are more likely to take on young apprentices and provide entry level training opportunitiesHowevera larger proportion of funding than planned is being spent by large employers on higher level apprenticeships for older workers and for existing staff. This learning has value, but it should not come at the expense of opportunities for young people or training at small firms. 

Learning and Work Institute has called for urgent action to prevent the imminent over-spend and ensure funding is available for SMEs and young people. This includes:  

  • Investing an additional £150m per year for apprenticeships at SMEs; 
  • Funding apprenticeships for 16 – 18 year olds from the education budget, rather than the apprenticeship levy, requiring an additional £400m per year; 
  • Requiring employers or individuals to provide top-up funding for higher and degree level apprenticeships for workers aged 25 and over. This would require employers to provide 50% of the cost of apprenticeships at level 4 and 5, and 75% of apprenticeships at level 6 and 7 for this age group, from outside of their levy funds. This would reduce levy spending by around £318m per year. 

In the medium term, Learning and Work Institute have called for a fundamental re-think of the levy, so that it delivers the skills that employers need, and drives economic growth and social justice. This could involve expanding the apprenticeship levy into a skills levy, which would give employers greater flexibility to use their funds on other forms of high quality training, in return for larger employer contributions.  

Introduced two years ago, the apprenticeship levy will raise nearly £3 billion this year. Large employers are required to pay the levy, and can use their funds to cover the cost of training apprentices they employ. Any funds that are unspent by levy-paying employers are used to cover the cost of apprenticeship training at small and medium sized employers.  

Stephen Evans, chief executive of Learning and Work Institute, said;

The government was right to introduce the apprenticeship levy, but they are at risk of both missing the target and busting the budgetIgnoring this problem is not an option. It would just lead to a creeping rationing of apprenticeships at the small employers that make up the backbone of our economy, and it would limit opportunities for young people. 

Our balanced approach would plug the funding gap, and it would support employers to train young workers and upskill adults with lower levels of qualifications. Beyond this, we need to look at how to ensure the levy can deliver our long-term skills needs 

Mark Dawe, chief executive of Association of Education and Learning Providers, said;

“Since AELP surveyed its member providers in the summer, the situation for funding the apprenticeships of SMEs has become palpably worse. The Prime Minister said in July that apprenticeships would be ‘properly funded’ and the Budget will determine whether or not that was just another politician’s empty promise.  

Businesses and young people across the country, especially in areas north of the M25, are extremely frustrated that they are being denied the funding for new places on the programme and so government needs to back up its apprenticeship reforms with a budget which is sustainable over the long term.” 

David Hughes, chief executive officer at Association of Colleges, said;

“The apprenticeship levy has successfully engaged many large businesses in the programme for the first time, but the higher costs are resulting in young people and SMEs missing out.  

That has to change if the productivity and social justice aims of the programme are to be achieved. This timely report should be carefully considered by the Government before the Budget when the Chancellor will need to put the programme back on track.” 

Joe Dromey, deputy director of research and development at Learning and Work Institute, said;

It is increasingly obvious that the assumptions on which the levy were based are flawed, and that there is not enough funding in the system. The Chancellor must use the upcoming budget to plug this gap, so that SMEs and young people don’t miss out on opportunities.

“Once this immediate crisis has been resolved, government should look at reforming the levy to give employers greater flexibility and to boost investment.”