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Number Of New Apprenticeships Recovering As Pandemic Continues

09 Feb 2021

Number Of New Apprenticeships Recovering As Pandemic Continues

New figures from the Department for Education have revealed that the number of new apprenticeships seem to be recovering after taking a battering at the start of the pandemic.

On Day Two of National Apprenticeship Week 2021, we think this is encouraging news. Although, obviously, we’d hope to see much more improvement in the coming months as the pandemic starts to get more under control.

Although year-on-year figures for new apprenticeships starts are (understandably) down during the pandemic, the annual rate differential is decreasing rapidly.

The data from the Department for Education, published at the end of January 2021, shows that the period August to October 2020 (the latest figures available) saw a 28 per cent drop in the number of new apprenticeships started, when compared to the same period twelve months earlier.

Although that might sound alarming at first glance, the previous quarter (May to July 2020) registered a 42 per cent drop on the same three months of 2019.

The data shows that the number of new apprenticeships started has more than doubled over the most recent two periods for which the Department for Education has released figures for.

In concrete terms, that amounts to 91,100 new UK apprentices signing up to schemes in the three months to the end of August 2020, compared with 43,600 during the May to July quarter last year.

Commenting on the figures from the Department for Education, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Apprenticeships and Skills, Gillian Keegan, said:

“Apprenticeships form a vital part of our new Skills for Jobs White Paper which will transform post-16 education and training, helping to deliver the skills individuals, businesses and the economy need to build back better from the pandemic.”

“As of January 8th 2021 almost 19,000 applications had been submitted from employers for our offer of a cash boost of up to £2000 to hire new apprentices, showing the value they know apprenticeships can bring to their business. This offer is available until March 2021, so businesses can create even more opportunities and give more people the life changing chance to kick start or upskill their career.”

“I know the pandemic is continuing to impact businesses across the country and some apprentices have lost their job or are facing redundancy. Our Redundancy Support Service continues to offer free advice to apprentices and help to find them alternative options,” added Ms Keegan.

Find out more about all the different levels and types of apprenticeships you can do, and apply for the latest programmes in your area now, by heading over to our main Apprenticeship section.

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