The skills and apprenticeships offers:

1. The skills and apprenticeships offers: Are they fit to encourage UK growth in the quantity, geography, demography and skills areas we need? What has to be done to ensure that the gaps are filled? #esgYEC2013

2. How do we compare? • Youth and adult unemployment

3. Best in classFinancial performance

4. The UK challenge Evidence of dire skills shortages Only one in six UK businesses has an apprenticeship scheme (15%) Inadequate employability skills Poor functional skills

5. The UK challenge Fragmented and dysfunctional education system Life-long learning Gaps between schooling, vocational training (FE) and higher education are woeful Differences infunding methodologies Differences in opinion over “education” and “training”

6. Policy If a qualification is not about a passport to a job, or a higher level of education, then it has no purpose Rigour and Responsiveness in Skills

7. The Leading Model est.1969 An integral part of the education system in Germany 60% of school leavers undertake an Apprenticeship The system is established in statute, the Vocational Training Act 1969

8. The Leading Model Arrangement is between employers, trade unions and federal and state government for development of vocational training & education - they AGREE on the nature/content of what is learned in classroom and workplace learning There is more alignment between funders Programmes are developed which match skills development with needs of industry

9. To close the gaps…… • esg.is supportive of building a skilled workforce - we recognise the need to deliver skills that employers need • Employer Ownership of Skills • There is value in involving employers in developing the training schemes to benefit their particular industry/company • and employees • ? • How would the Government ensure employers were accountable for public funds when they are acting as both awarding body and provider of the training? • Further demand on an already overstretched ASB – skills needs more money

10. Summary • It is not just Apprenticeships that aren’t fit for purpose but the whole system • Too many reviews have been undertaken which have started in the wrong place, been too narrow, simplistic and idealistic, flying straight by the bigger issues • Large employers and SMES are chalk and cheese (kreide and fromage!) • £££ • Tax payers money for skills funding should be spent where employers won’t spend • The different education and training sectors need to stop competing and start collaborating

11. Thank you • Anthony BentonChief Operating Officer - Skills