REC welcomes political support for apprenticeships

The Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC) has welcomed the support being shown for apprenticeships by the three main political parties ahead of National Apprenticeship Week 2012.

The comments were made in a submission replying to the Department of Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) Select Committee inquiry into apprenticeships.

The submission highlights key points made by recruiters at the REC's roundtable on apprenticeships which was held with BIS Select Committee Chair Adrian Bailey MP in December 2011.

Gillian Econopouly, the REC's Head of Public Policy, commented:

"It is excellent to see cross-party support for boosting apprenticeships as a way into the world of work. REC members across the UK have been helping to deliver this agenda by starting apprenticeships in their own agencies, as well as advising clients on how apprentices can build up their talent pipeline.

"However, the BIS Committee inquiry is very welcome as the end goal must not simply be a numerical target of new apprenticeships. Instead, the measure of success should look at the quality of apprenticeships, whether they are not only begun, but successfully completed, and to what extent they form the basis of fulfilling careers.

"Apprenticeships are a valuable tool in addressing the current youth employment crisis, but they must be a genuine building block for long-term skills rather than being seen simply as a panacea for the problems of today."

To read the full submission click here