As part of National Apprenticeship Week, the Government announced a host of reforms to the UK’s apprenticeship system following lobbying from the British Beauty Council
As part of National Apprenticeship Week, the Government announced a host of reforms to the UK’s apprenticeship system following lobbying from the British Beauty Council
Notably, the minimum apprenticeship will be reduced from 12 to 8 months and apprentices will no longer be required to hold English and maths qualifications to start their course.
In addition, the new measures now mean:
- Streamlined data reporting for apprenticeship providers
- Changes to how End Point Assessments are used
- More flexibility in how English and maths requirements are handled
The British Beauty Council, which has long been calling for apprenticeship reforms, has received direct correspondence from the Minister for Skills, Baroness Jacqui Smith, who has been instrumental in the campaign.
In her letter to the British Beauty Council’s Chief Policy & Sustainability Officer, Victoria Brownlie MBE, Smith said:
‘Our levy-funded growth and skills offer will deliver greater flexibility for learners and employers in England, creating routes into skilled jobs in strategically aligned, growing industries. As a first step toward greater flexibility, we are introducing new foundation apprenticeships for young people, as well as shorter duration apprenticeships.’
On the reform of qualification requirements, Smith said: ‘This policy change will allow many more apprentices to secure the significant benefits of apprenticeship completion and will offer opportunities for many more potential apprentices currently excluded from apprenticeships due to not already holding English and maths qualifications.’
Under the new measures, English and maths requirements for apprentices are also changing and the Government is enabling providers to choose their own assessment methods for students. This means students will be assessed in a way that suits their unique talents, rather than being made to adopt a ‘one size fits all’ approach.
The Government has also launched a new app called ‘Your Apprenticeship’, which is a one stop shop for apprentices to track their progress and access apprenticeship-specific guidance.
For more information on the reforms, you can visit the following pages:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/more-red-tape-slashed-to-reduce-apprenticeship-bureaucracy
