Commenting on the Holt Review into apprenticeships, which has been published today (Wednesday), Caroline Williams CEO Norfolk Chamber, said:
“Norfolk employers will expect swift implementation of the practical recommendations contained in the Holt Review. Apprenticeships offer a valuable route for young people to earn a wage while developing skills that are valued by employers. Businesses want to support the transition from education to work, but they also want a skills system that is more responsive to their needs.
“Norfolk Chamber of Commerce will build on our work with local schools and the National Apprenticeship Service to ensure young people are able to make informed decisions about their future. Apprenticeships can often offer a more reliable route into a good job than continued academic study, but too many young people don’t get the information and guidance they need to make the right choice for their own future.
“The government’s decision to widen the eligibility criteria for the Apprenticeship Grant for Employers will encourage more employers to take on an apprentice in the 16-24 age bracket. Ministers should go one step further though, and encourage businesses to invest in apprenticeship training for young people who are eligible for Youth Contract wage incentives, by allowing apprenticeship grants and Youth Contract incentives to be combined. Providing the most vulnerable young people with valued skills and a respected qualification that will serve them in the long-term would really be something to celebrate.”
