It is with sadness as an ex Manager of Apprenticeship Training I see how this Government Coalition has misused and reduced the credibility of modern Apprenticeships. I know real apprenticeship training is still taking place providing real skills for industry and commerce.
Pictured: Councillor Bob Wright with fellow Central ward Councillor Junab Ali
It is with sadness as an ex Manager of Apprenticeship Training I see how this Government Coalition has misused and reduced the credibility of modern Apprenticeships. I know real apprenticeship training is still taking place providing real skills for industry and commerce. This is being achieved through years of examined development, however, just as many so called Apprenticeships remind me of the abuse of Youth unemployment several decades before.
In the past many unscrupulous companies who were used to poaching their skilled labour needs took advantage of Youth Training Schemes. Instead of contributing money for Industrial Training Boards to provide quality examined training they took money to provide two year schemes. This replaced the four to five year apprenticeships with skills units for limited internal use. The demise of 'Real Apprenticeships' left local colleges short of demand for skills training so they also got in on the act. They provided two year YTS courses with no guarantee of employment when the courses finished. Leaving many young people looking for a company willing to take on the remaining two years of development.
This abuse of schemes has re-emerged via this government massaging jobless figures through meaningless bundling of manual labour tasks as six month Apprenticeships. Very similar things have happened in commerce and particularly shop work. Even when genuine skills are developed a six month unit does not meet the quality programme outcomes of 'Real Apprenticeships'.
If this government truly wants to promote Apprenticeship Week perhaps the best thing they can do is to guarantee 'Real Apprenticeships'
Councillor Bob Wright
Central Ward Councillor