"The best way to predict the future is to create it." — Peter Drucker
A significant shift in apprenticeship funding strategies is set to impact older learners, as the government redirects its focus towards increasing entry-level training opportunities for individuals under 21. The new policy aims to enhance the availability of funded places for younger generations, while also encouraging employers to offer more apprenticeships targeted at under-21s. This move has been met with both praise and criticism as it may disproportionately affect older learners seeking skill upgrades and career transitions.
The government’s decision comes as a response to the need to boost opportunities for younger individuals who face higher barriers to employment and skill development, particularly following the pandemic. Officials aim to ensure that this demographic, which has experienced heightened economic uncertainty, receives the necessary support to enter the job market.
The shift in funding priorities will see a reduction in government contributions for apprenticeship programs targeted at older learners. Instead, the focus will shift towards sponsoring more training places for those under 21, especially at the entry level. This change is designed to incentivize employers to offer more positions geared towards youth, who may otherwise struggle to gain a foot in the job market.
While the policy aims to create a youthful apprenticeship boom, some critics have
