A recent analysis revealed a significant decline in the number of individuals under the age of 19 commencing apprenticeships over the last seven years of Conservative governance. The Trades Union Congress (TUC) reported a 26% drop in initiation rates for under 19s and a 15% decrease for 19–24-year-olds from 2017 to 2024.
Moreover, the TUC highlighted a 44% decrease in completion rates for under 19s and a 31% decline for 19-24-year-olds during the same period. The TUC’s analysis further indicated that 14.8% of 16–18-year-olds who transitioned from school or college to work, further education, or training in 2022/23 did not finish or continue their endeavors, an increase from 12.9% in 2017-18.
Notably, the dropout rate stood at 25.9% for young people with special educational needs and rose to 26.8% for those on free school meals. The TUC emphasized that these statistics reflect a broader pattern of missed opportunities for youth under the 14 years of Tory administration, underscoring the urgent need for apprenticeship reforms.
The TUC advocated for a broader implementation of the new growth and skills levy in the upcoming Budget, currently applicable to only 2% of businesses. This expansion, according to TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak, would encourage more employers to invest in training, recruit apprentices, and address youth unemployment effectively.
Labour’s efforts, particularly through the youth guarantee initiative, have been commended for steering away from past Tory shortcomings. Labour leader Keir Starmer pledged to establish a target for 50% of young individuals to pursue university, further education, or high-quality apprenticeships by age 25, signaling a shift in educational focus.
In a bid to enhance training flexibility, the Government announced a replacement growth and skills levy that includes new foundation apprenticeships. The revised levy is poised to offer funding for shorter apprenticeship programs, granting learners and employers increased training adaptability compared to the existing structure.