By Mike Briffett

Published 10th May 2023, 05:45 BST

More than 30 years ago when I entered the world of work, I enrolled on the equivalent of an Advanced Apprenticeship. I gained experience, made new friends, obtained professional qualifications and earned money whilst I was doing it – what’s not to like about that? However, in the words of my then headmaster, I was, “a disappointment to the school!” Apparently, getting a job was a serious error of judgement on my part and I should have been going to university.

Universities play a vital role in our education system, but it is undeniable that the graduate path is not for everyone. There is however a shared responsibility to open the eyes of our youngsters to the variety of educational pathways, affording wider participation in a route most suited to the individual. Apprenticeships are more affordable and more inclusive and can take young people on a journey to achievement with as much success as a degree course.

In our region we are blessed with many incredible Further Education Colleges. However, none of these high-performing institutions have anything like sufficient funding for outreach programmes in schools to promote apprenticeships. Indeed many of the conversations I have leave me thinking that the role FE can play is still widely misunderstood by those who could be inspiring our talented youngsters to the opportunities that exist. Does Government really understand the role further education has to play in supporting social mobility?

Mike Briffett of Leeds Chamber of Commerce shares his expert insight

In its latest set of figures the Department for Education showed that apprenticeships fell by 69 per cent between 2015/16 and 2021/22. If this was not concerning enough there are some troubling underlying trends in these statistics. As Lisa Coulthard of FE Week has identified, advanced apprenticeships are on an upward trend whilst Level 2 and 3 (intermediate and higher) are falling.

It would be a fair assumption that this reflects the ability of larger firms to access funds from the Apprenticeship Levy and provide the resources to recruit and support young people into the workplace. However, small and medium size firms are simply unable to manage their way through the process, even if they could find the time. And when 99 per cent of firms employ less than 250 people and 95 per cent employ less than 10, this is a giant issue for the overwhelming majority of our companies.

This is not only failing our workforce and business leaders, it is damaging our economy.

Encouragingly there is some great work on these matters taking place across the region. West Yorkshire Combined Authority, our councils and other institutions all have their skills agendas and programmes. I have also been impressed by the work that Chambers of Commerce are doing across the country through the Local Skills Improvement Plans.

However, none of this addresses the real elephant in the room, namely that FE funding per pupil is at the same level in 2023 as it was in 2010. I cannot be the only person wondering how this can be a sustainable educational model for probably one of the most appropriate training and education pathways available to quickly address our skills shortages with courses shaped by local employers.

The shadow of my old headmaster looms once again and I cannot help thinking that, after 30 years, there remains an unwillingness to value the role of the modern apprentice.

Mike Briffett is Leeds Chamber of Commerce President and Project Director at Clarion Housing Group.

Lack of FE funding is elephant in the room on apprenticeship drive: Mike Briffett