Jamie Jeffries, CEO of Access Training UK, commented:“We welcome the news that the government will be reviewing the Apprenticeship Levy. We desperately need to encourage more people to take a vocational route into training, and this starts by making sure training schemes are properly funded. The skills shortage has been a disaster brewing for decades. It’s estimated that the UK needs to recruit 217,000 new workers by 2025 in construction alone, just to keep up with current demand.
Just 18% of young people hold a vocational qualification. If we are to encourage more people into vocational training we need to ensure that the Apprenticeship Levy remains focused on the training and development of those looking to enter work, and does not become a tool to offer businesses wage subsidies.”
