Lord Flight is Chairman of Flight & Partners Recovery Fund, and is a former Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury.
I submit that the most important territory to address when managing exposure to the pandemic is to ensure that the next generation is trained for worthwhile employment.
I question whether our reformed apprenticeship system is currently either achieving this or in the present context capable of achieving this. It is here that ongoing government management and funding are needed to finance and manage apprentices through their training courses.
My Livery company, the Carpenters, has for over a 100 years managed the Building Crafts College set up by Sir Banister Flight Fletcher. It has a leading reputation for the quality of its training. It has again just been closed due to the lockdown, although it is managing to continue with online teaching. Here I suggest pupils and staff might be empowered to hold their own vote on whether or not to stay open, with full protective clothing and gear provided. I could see an argument for government involvement in offering and financing apprenticeships.
Last August the Government set up a new online telephone support service for apprentices who have lost their jobs during the Covid-19 outbreak. The redundancy support service for apprentices should ensure they can access local and national services providing financial and other support to help them find a new job when they need this. Apprentices can also search and apply for other available apprenticeship opportunities across the country. I hope these support services are continuing during the lockdown.
Also, employers, large and small, have being encouraged to take advantage of generous new cash incentives designed to create more high-quality apprenticeship opportunities, so more people and especially the young can kick start a successful career. As part of the Government’s plan for jobs employers have being offered £2,000 for each new apprenticeship aged under 25 which they hire and £1,500 for each apprentice hired aged 25 or over up to January 31. This includes taking on an apprentice who has been made redundant.
For apprentices I submit government help and support should go further than this. It would be particularly positive if the Government could provide the finance for an apprenticeship and run a service placing young people seeking an apprenticeship – both those who have been made redundant and those new to the apprenticeship market.
The Government has been taking steps through its Plan for Jobs to both support and protect support jobs and to create jobs with a clear focus on ensuring people have the right skills to get into work. This includes creating more high-quality apprenticeship opportunities to help get our economy moving. The Redundancy Support Service for Apprentices should make sure those who have lost their jobs can get the help and support they need to get back on the path to a new career. These have now been damaged by the third lockdown.
Employers who have apprenticeship opportunities and who are willing to take on a redundant apprentice have also been encouraged to sign up to the new service and to advertise their vacancies. Apprentices who are looking for new opportunities can then see what is on offer.
The cash incentives for employers are in addition to the £1,000 payment for new 16-18 year old apprentices and those aged under 25 with an education, health and care plan. To support particularly young people affected by Covid-19, the Government introduced a portfolio of support covering £111 million cash boost to triple the number of traineeships available across England – the largest ever expansion of apprenticeships. The Government recognises we need to ensure more 16 to 24 year olds can get the skills and the experience they need to enter the world of work.