AoC responds to Keir Starmer's apprenticeship announcement

David Hughes, Chief Executive, Association of Colleges, said: “The Prime Minister’s announcement this morning is an important step in the right direction when it comes to apprenticeships and supporting young people into good careers. Our research published in 2024 found that since the implementation of the apprenticeship levy, apprenticeships among young people had fallen significantly and starts in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) had halved.

“Colleges already work with thousands of employers who offer young people a start in work, but we know more is needed to address the stubborn and very high number of young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET). This announcement recognises that pressing need and that supporting SMEs to take on more apprenticeships is a vital part of the solution. For many NEET young people, training and gaining new skills in a college is also a vital part of the journey into a good job, and colleges are ready to step in to scale up that offer.”