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<p>Apprenticeships are paid jobs with substantial training. Whilst we would not want
to interfere in employers’ recruitment decisions, we believe that there is more that
can be done to ensure that people from a diverse range of backgrounds are in the best
possible place to apply for and secure an apprenticeship.</p><p>The Apprenticeships
Equality and Diversity Advisory Group helps the Government to understand and address
any apprenticeship equality and diversity issues in order to reduce barriers and make
apprenticeships as inclusive as possible.</p><p>Apprentices with a learning difficulty
or disability can apply for Access to Work funding for reasonable adjustments in the
workplace, and individuals whose circumstances mean they were not able to undertake
an apprenticeship before their 19th birthday may qualify for enhanced funding as long
as they start an apprenticeship before their 24th birthday.</p><p>The National Institute
of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE) has also produced an employer toolkit including
resources and links to help employers of disabled apprentices.</p><p>In 2012 Government
published the findings from Peter Little OBE’s detailed review of the inclusiveness
of apprenticeships for people with learning difficulties or disabilities. The National
Apprenticeship Service is working with the Skills Funding Agency (SFA), Department
for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and Department for Education (DfE) to meet
the recommendations made by this report, which can be viewed here:</p><p><a href="http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20141006151154/http://www.apprenticeships.org.uk/~/media/documents/AU-CreatingAnInclusiveApprenticeshipOffer-Report-May2012.ashx"
target="_blank">http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20141006151154/http://www.apprenticeships.org.uk/~/media/documents/AU-CreatingAnInclusiveApprenticeshipOffer-Report-May2012.ashx</a></p><p>Apprenticeships
are accessible - in 2013/14, 38,170 people who declared a disability or learning difficulty
started an apprenticeship.</p>
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