EEF has submitted its contribution to a consultation on the reform of apprenticeship funding.
EEF has reported that its submission to government’s consultation on apprenticeship funding reform heavily emphasized the need for more employer ownership of funding.
Drawing on input from its members, the manufacturer’s organisation EEF has told government that routing funding through the employer will drive providers to be more responsive to industry needs. It will encourage them to offer the skills provision that employers demand and drive by enabling employers to hold providers to account on quality issue.
This will encourage uptake off apprentices, therefore helping government achieve its targets in this are added EEF.
Steve Radley, director of Policy at EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation said: “To win in the global market, industry needs more and better apprenticeships and the government has backed it up with funding and efforts to raise their quality and make them simpler. But we now need a revolution in how they are funded if we are take this to the next stage.
“Only by placing the funding in the hands of the employer will we see a truly responsive, relevant system, which delivers high quality apprenticeships demanded by employers and learners.”
However, continued Mr Radley, getting the mechanism right will be crucial. He urged government to listen carefully to the advice and suggestions made by employers during its consultation.
Government has been taking submissions on apprenticeship funding reform since July. The submission deadline for the consultation was October 1.
Find out more about the consultation remit and process here.
