Barriers to apprenticeship - November 2014
The Equality Act 2010 sets out the UK government’s policy for ensuring that all people in the UK are fairly treated, are not subject to discrimination and have the same chances in life. The Welsh Government’s Strategic Equalities Plan and objectives (2012-2016) sets out its objectives for the people in Wales in relation to the 2010 Act. These objectives include equal opportunities for all and the right of everyone to be treated well and not be subject to discrimination. The Minister for Education and Skills, in his annual remit letter to Estyn 2013-2014, asked Estyn to carry out a review into barriers to apprenticeship arising from any difficulties experienced by learners from black and minority ethnic groups and those with disabilities when entering apprenticeship programmes. The review also identifies gender-stereotyping issues in apprenticeship occupational sectors.This report is the first in a series of two reviews, the second of which will focus on case studies of good practice that can be used to inform improvement.
Recommendations
In order to improve the take-up of apprenticeships, the Welsh Government should continue to:
- use ‘National Apprenticeship Week’ to target the promotion of apprenticeships to parents and learners from BME communities and disabled learners, and to combat gender stereotyping;
- commission, in partnership with WBL providers, schools, BME community groups, groups representing the disabled, Careers Wales and the National Training federation for Wales (NTfW), an all-Wales marketing campaign to raise awareness of and promote apprenticeships to marginalised groups and to combat gender stereo-typing. The target audience should include parents, teachers, learners and employers;
- make sure that employers are aware of the support available to them when taking on apprentices with specific support or learning needs including those that require support for English language development;
- review the current allocation of apprenticeship places to meet local demand, including encouraging public sector organisations to take on apprentices, with a focus on recruiting from BME communities and learners with a disability; and
- work with WBL providers to further develop their equality and diversity polices and approaches, including sharing best practice.
Work-based learning providers should:
- work more closely with schools, employers, community leaders and organisations representing BME and disabled learners to improve awareness of apprenticeships;
- work more effectively with local education providers and other agencies to make sure that valuable experience and resources are shared to support apprentices from BME communities;
- work with community leaders to identify community co-ordinators who will co-ordinate action to raise awareness of apprenticeships in the BME communities;
- make use of role models to promote apprenticeships in the community; and
- work with the Welsh Government and awarding bodies to develop more awareness of the support available for delivering some elements of a qualification for learners with disabilities.