| answer text |
<p>Different apprenticeship programmes operate in England and Scotland. Doug Richard's
Review focused on English apprenticeships and he made a number of recommendations
to make the programme more rigorous and responsive to employers' needs. The Government
accepted the Richard Review principles and set out its apprenticeship reform programme
in the October 2013 Implementation Plan.</p><p> </p><p>The reforms include employers
developing new apprenticeship standards, requiring employers to co-invest, putting
the Government funding for the external training and assessment of apprentices in
the hands of their employers and setting maximum Government contribution levels. With
direct access to funding, employers will be able to negotiate a price for the training
with their provider, and this means it is not possible in advance of the reforms to
say what the costs of training apprentices in specific occupations will be.</p><p>
</p><p> </p><p>The Maritime sector has a long tradition of apprenticeships which we
wish to continue. English apprenticeships are currently available for Maritime occupations
and employers in the sector are currently designing a new apprenticeship standard
for ratings as part of our Phase 2 Trailblazer programme.</p><p> </p><p>The Government
has recognised through Alternative Completion Conditions Regulations that, in some
maritime occupations, apprentices may be trainees rather than employees. The apprenticeships
funding reform technical consultation is open until 1 May 2014 and this includes a
question about how, or to what extent, the new funding principles and mechanism can
be applied to non-employed apprentices.</p><p> </p>
|
|
