National Audit Office publishes apprenticeships report

Responding to the report from the National Audit Office, “Delivering value through the apprenticeships programme”, David Hughes, Chief Executive of the Association of Colleges (AoC), said: “The expansion of the apprenticeship programme is good for apprentices and businesses alike but the National Audit Office (NAO) confirms that there are problems with the way reforms are being managed. Giving more responsibility to employer groups to re-design apprenticeships has resulted in standards that are less transferrable. ‎At the same time there is a risk that Government targets will result in less emphasis on quality. “The NAO is right to say that the reforms need better clarity on the overall purpose of the programme - including productivity, social mobility and job entry - which in turn can help determine the success measures which can be better monitored. The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education will need quickly to set out a clear vision, get a grip on the system and help define what quality means for employers and learners.”