A Teesside chemical company has become a trailblazer for a national apprentice scheme - amid calls for ‘more government clarity’ on plans to give employers greater powers over apprenticeship funding.
Chemoxy International, which has sites in Middlesbrough and Billingham, is one of the first companies in the country to advertise for an apprentice under the Trailblazers scheme, which gives bosses control over the design of apprenticeships.
But yesterday, the NECC warned bosses could be put off from investing in apprentices if a clearer plan on funding reforms, which will run in parallel with Trailblazers, was not made available soon.
The government claimed that putting employers in control of apprenticeship funding was ‘non-negotiable’ - but ‘detailed design work’ was needed before a final decision could be made on how it would function.
NECC Policy and Research Manager, Mark Stephenson, said although it was encouraging that ministers had appeared to listen to what businesses wanted, a lack of clarity on what happens next was ‘far from ideal.’
He said: “When NECC responded to this consultation, we argued that businesses will welcome a bigger say over how training funds are spent, but that some smaller companies in particular might struggle taking full control over apprenticeship funding.
“The government needs to clarify how apprenticeship funding will work herein with a focus on keeping the system simple and ensuring businesses provide an appropriate amount of steer. It is equally important that this is resolved quickly to ensure that no businesses are put off from investing in apprenticeships by the prolonged uncertainty.”
Official figures earlier this month showed a drop of 1,300 in North-east apprenticeships for 2013-14, meanwhile an EngineeringUK report yesterday claimed the number of apprentices and graduates entering the industry needed to double.
Trailblazers was created after employers and trade bodies across eight sectors put apprenticeships under the microscope.
The result was a raft of changes, which saw apprenticeships redefined and revised to better meet the needs of businesses.
Chemoxy invited applications for a QC Laboratory Technician, who will complete an Advanced Level Apprenticeship under Trailblazers, joining the eight apprentices already at the company.
Ian Stark, Chemoxy CEO, said: “This new position is the first we’ve advertised under the scheme and we are proud to be at the forefront of the new project.
“Trailblazers is about making sure young people embarking on their careers develop the correct skills-set to meet the changing needs of industry. Many of those who joined the company as apprentices have progressed to senior positions including our plant manager Daniel Arkle.”
Earlier this year Matthew Hancock MP, Minister of State for Business and Enterprise, told the Voice of Apprenticeships Conference that Trailblazers involved companies across eight sectors “rewriting the rulebook”.
He said the project resulted in hundreds of pages of complex apprenticeship frameworks being condensed to a two-side description of the skills, knowledge and attitude employees need to demonstrate in a particular industry, and how they
should be assessed.
Neil Carberry, CBI Director for Employment and Skills, said giving employers ‘real purchasing power’ under the reforms was ‘crucial’.
“We need as many companies as possible to be offering apprenticeships, but that can only happen if the system is simple and flexible enough to meet the needs of smaller businesses.”
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