The ‘Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025’ sets out new ways of structuring, funding, and promoting apprenticeships to make apprenticeship accessible to employers and learners. The Plan seeks to deliver on a target of 10,000 apprenticeship registrations per annum, across a wide range of programmes, by 2025.
This ambitious plan includes a commitment to consolidate the current two streams of apprenticeship (craft and consortia-led) into a single system.
The process for migration from the dual- to a single-system is being undertaken in a considered and consultative manner, with partners involving representatives of apprentices, employers, unions, education institutions, educators and staff.
The rationale for this reform is to -
• simplify the governance structures and streamline relationships and roles
• delegate delivery system to improve agility, flexibility, and speed to market in all conditions
• create more transparency in terms of oversight an delivery and funding for stakeholders
• build the integrated system on the strengths of both delivery models
• increase the pace of innovation to adapt to rapid technology and economic changes
• foster the integration of apprenticeship within quality assurance arrangements
• standardise funding under a single apprenticeship system
Already, the working group leading this objective have developed a workplan that will lead to the development of a migration pathway. This has been presented to partners through the National Apprenticeship Alliance.
The workplan outlines three key workstreams -
develop a structure, including funding and governance arrangements, for both craft and consortia-led
follow a structured programme of engagement with partners
develop a migration plan that will ensure the smooth transition of programmes in an orderly fashion to the new single system
The consultation, planning and design elements for the migration will take place over the course of 2023.