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<p>We have introduced a wide range of reforms to apprenticeships to improve their
quality and encourage employers in all sectors to increase the number of apprenticeships
they offer.</p><p>We are pleased that the construction sector has committed to increase
apprenticeship starts to 25,000 a year by 2020, as part of its Sector Deal with the
government. We are working closely with them to achieve this (for example, the Construction
Industry Training Board links employers and apprentices, and can see encouraging momentum
towards this goal).</p><p>In the first half of 2018-19, there were 16,700 starts in
the Construction, Planning and Built Environment sector, an increase from 16,080 and
from 15,060 at the same points in 2017-18 and 2016-17 respectively. 70 industry-designed
apprenticeship standards are available in the construction sector, with 30 more standards
in development.</p><p>To support all employers to make the long-term, sustainable
investment in training, in April 2019 we halved the co-investment rate from 10% to
5% for new starts and increased the amount that levy paying employers can transfer
to other employers from 10% to 25%.</p><p>Through our ‘Fire it Up’ communication campaign,
we are also working across the country to raise awareness of apprenticeships and the
benefits that they bring to both employers and apprentices.</p>
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