Apprenticeships should be fit for purpose

View Latest News Publish Date: 6-Oct-2006

Apprenticeships should be fit for purpose

Despite efforts from Government the take-up of Apprenticeships by large employers remains limited, according to new research from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).

Victoria Winkler, Learning, Training and Development Adviser, says:

"What is clear is that in the right circumstances employers can benefit from the introduction or expansion of apprenticeship training, but this cannot be a blanket approach. Government needs to work with UK businesses to identify the industries and roles where apprenticeship programmes will work best for both the individual and the employer.

"Employers value the scope that apprenticeship programmes can have for improving the selection and socialisation of young people who are prospective long-term employees, but their willingness to participate depends primarily on how they perceive the technical content of the vocational qualifications
- and the relevance of these to their business."

The report, Large employers and apprenticeship training, was commissioned by the CIPD and carried out by out by a research team at the Department of Management at King's College London'. It investigates large employer involvement in apprenticeships. Findings include information about the level of employer involvement within publicly funded Advanced Apprenticeship programmes and employer attitudes towards these programmes.

The research also suggests that the extent to which the content of Advanced Apprenticeships can be tailored to the employer's requirements is not widely recognised.

"Government needs to become better at communicating the different types of apprenticeship programmes available and highlighting the benefits to businesses." adds Victoria Winkler.

Large employers and apprenticeship training is based on face-to-face interviews with learning and development managers in thirty large organisations. These include:

  • Rolls-Royce plc
  • Leicester City Council Maintenance DSO
  • Selfridges & Co
  • BT Retail

The research focuses on two sectors that have strong historical associations with apprenticeship programmes, engineering and construction, and two newer sectors, retailing and information and telecommunications technology.


Members of the Work Place Learning Centre team are available to provide journalists and media organisations with expert comment on all aspects of learning at work.

View our editorial policy click here.