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Vocational Education and Training

Quarterly Newsletter
Welcome to our quarterly newsletter. Our aim is to keep you up to date on events, resources, publications
and news within the vocational training sector. Please feel free to forward this newsletter to colleagues who
may be interested in our work.

Apprenticeship Update starts and the most popular standard is Team

During the current year a total of 814,800 people Leader/Supervisor.

are participating in an apprenticeship, with 375,800 A recent business survey found that employers
new starts and 276,200 achievements. There are experienced a wide range of benefits as a result of
normally about 500,000 new apprenticeship starts training apprentices. Half the companies surveyed
each year, but numbers are lower this year due to said that their apprentices made a valuable
changes in the funding system. Statistics show that contribution to the business during their training
starts at intermediate level and by apprentices aged period, with a further third reporting that
25 and over are particularly affected. However, apprentices added value within their first few
there are a higher proportion of starts from weeks or even from the first day. Apprenticeships
apprentices aged under 19 and more men (51%) offer significant returns on investment and once
have started apprenticeships than women (49%). qualified can add around £214 per week in
The proportion of advanced and higher-level productivity gains. Businesses find them a good
apprenticeships has steadily increased over the way to recruit new staff or to up-skill existing staff
years and for the first-time advanced level and report they lead to tangible economic benefits.
apprenticeship starts outnumbered those at
Basic Skills
intermediate level.
The UK ranks in the bottom four OECD countries

Apprenticeship Starts for literacy and numeracy among young people.

2019/2020 Other countries have seen an improvement in basic
Higher Level skills across successive generations as employers
13% Intermediate Level
43% invest more in these skills. Almost every other
developed country has been more successful in
building a skilled workforce, leaving the UK
Advanced Level
44% economy at risk of falling behind. Singapore has
the highest achieving students in international
Over half of the apprenticeship starts were in the
education rankings with the UK ranked 21 for
sector areas of Business Administration and Law
reading and 27 for maths, behind countries such as
(30%) and Health, Public Services and Care
Japan, Estonia, Finland and Vietnam. The training
(24%), followed by Engineering and
and development needs of young people must be
Manufacturing Technologies (16%), and Retail and
addressed to ensure workers are equipped with
Commercial Enterprise (14%). The most popular
more than the skills they learnt at school.
framework is Business Administration with 29,000

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English and maths are essential skills that are regarding industry and professional skills
critical in building a skilled and productive education.
workforce. Recent policy has made it the
The 45th WorldSkills Competition was held in
responsibility of the government and employers to
Russia. More than 1,350 young professionals
ensure that all apprentices have a basic level of
attended, representing 63 member countries and
English and maths. Attainment of at least basic
regions. Each skill competition is assessed through
level English and maths qualifications is an
a series of tests and projects which are completed
important part of the apprenticeship programme.
over the four days of the competition. The tests are
For those undertaking a level 3 or higher
designed by industry experts and incorporate the
apprenticeship, it is a requirement that they hold or
knowledge, practical skills and attributes valued by
achieve an approved level 2 qualification in both
employers, including successful completion of
subjects before they can successfully complete the
tasks set, problem-solving, time management and
apprenticeship.
working under pressure. Competitors are assessed
Vocational World Championships by experts against rigorous international standards

WorldSkills is a global organisation that promotes that specify the knowledge, understanding, skills

vocational, technological and service oriented and capabilities that underpin vocational

education and training. It aims to promote performance in that skill. There are 56 competition

excellence in skills, uplift professional skills trades ranging from carpentry to mobile robotics,

standards, and to raise the awareness and status of and from floristry to aircraft maintenance, within

vocational education and skills training across the six main industry categories:

world. It advocates the importance of skills in - Construction and Building Technology

achieving economic growth. It now has 82 member - Creative Arts and Fashion
- Information and Communication
countries and regions covering more than two- Technology
thirds of the world’s population. - Manufacturing and Engineering
Technology
The vocational skills world - Social and Personal Services
- Transportation and Logistics
championships are the largest
China topped the medal table for the second
and most prestigious
consecutive games with 16 gold, 14 silver and 5
vocational education and
bronze medals. Russia came second (14 golds, 4
skills competition in the
silvers and 4 bronzes) and Korea third (7 golds, 6
world. It is a biennial event with each competition
silvers and 2 bronzes).
hosted by a different country. Skilled young
professionals showcase their abilities and compete Visitors to the event had the opportunity to try 30

with the best in the world for the chance of different skills-related activities linked to those

winning a prestigious medal in their chosen skill. taking place in the adjacent skill competition and

The championships also provide the opportunity demonstration areas. They were also able to get

for leaders in industry, government, and education valuable careers advice. With over 200,000 visitors

to exchange information and best practices attending the event and thousands more virtual

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visitors, it was the largest competition to date and individuals and businesses. It targets young people,
the largest international event held in Russia that parents and employers and includes radio,
year. television and digital advertising along with social
media activities. A new website provides helpful
The 46th WorldSkills Competition
advice and information as well as access to
was held in Shanghai, China in
thousands of apprenticeship opportunities across
September this year.
the country. It is hoped to increase the number of

Apprenticeship Campaign vacancies created by employers and encourage

The new national apprenticeships campaign is now young people to choose an apprenticeship as a

live and runs until the end of December. The high-quality career route. Visit our website to find

campaign aims to make people aware of the out more about the opportunities available and how

changes to apprenticeships and the benefits to apprenticeships can benefit business.

Our next newsletter will be published in December 2021. If you would like to receive a copy, make sure you
have added yourself to our mailing list. Visit our website to sign up or to check your preference settings.

Edited By: Hind_JO130_9999