On 22 October 2021, the Department for Education answered a written question on what plans the Department has to increase flexibility in the apprenticeships system and extend access to workers on temporary contracts. The question was asked by Stephen Timms, who serves as the Labour Member of Parliament for East Ham.
The question was answered by Alex Burghart MP, Minister for Skills. The Government committed to making apprenticeships more flexible so that they better meet the needs of employers in all sectors. The Government is encouraging greater use of innovative apprenticeship training models, such as the front-loading of off-the-job training, so apprentices can be productive from day one in the workplace. The Government is also developing accelerated apprenticeships so that apprentices with substantial prior learning from other skills programmes, such as traineeships and T Levels, can complete an apprenticeship more quickly.
It is becoming easier for large employers to transfer levy funds to support new starts in small businesses, or a certain sector or region. On 13 September 2021, the Government launched a new online service to allow levy-paying employers to advertise funding pledges, enabling a much wider range of businesses to browse and apply for available funds.
The Government recognise that some sectors with flexible employment patterns and short-term roles, including creative, digital, adult social care, transport, and manufacturing have found it challenging to benefit from the high-quality apprenticeships available.
The new flexi-job apprenticeship offer was set up in August, the Government have invited sector bodies, groups of employers and other interested organisations to register as flexi-job apprenticeship agencies, giving them access to a £7 million fund to support new agencies with their start-up costs. These agencies will enable apprentices to work across multiple short-term projects with different employers and allow them to benefit from the high-quality long-term training that an apprenticeship provides.