United Kingdom to Extend Apprenticeship Opportunities to All Young Individuals: Key Developments in the Job Market
The UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, has announced an ambitious plan to increase apprenticeships and in-work placements for young people as part of a broader government effort to support youth employment and skill development. Dubbed the "opportunity guarantee," this plan aims to expand and transform apprenticeship opportunities, making it easier for young people to access training that leads directly to careers[1].
Under the "opportunity guarantee," employers will receive financial incentives to hire new apprentices. Those who take on apprentices under 25 will receive £2,000, while those who hire apprentices aged 25 and over will receive £1,500[1]. This scheme includes support for apprentices who have been made redundant, encouraging businesses of all sizes to participate.
The government also announced a plan to overhaul apprenticeships, aiming to boost numbers and make apprenticeship routes a more viable and attractive option for young people looking for career pathways in various industries[1]. To facilitate this, a new government service will be established to help businesses set up more apprenticeship opportunities, making it easier for apprentices to find suitable employers.
While the "opportunity guarantee" is linked to the wider "lifetime skills guarantee," which involves the Lifelong Learning Entitlement to post-18 education and training, its focus is on younger people entering the workforce or switching careers. It provides tangible work-based training and placements, offering young people the chance to gain relevant skills and work experience through structured apprenticeships[2].
This plan is part of the government's post-COVID recovery strategy, aiming to ensure more young people can access apprenticeships and in-work placements. However, the details of how the "opportunity guarantee" policy would work and its costs are yet to be specified[1]. Furthermore, the plan does not specify a start date or the industries or sectors for these apprenticeships or placements.
This article is based on the available information about the "opportunity guarantee" and its alignment with Prime Minister Johnson’s agenda to increase opportunities for young people in work-based learning pathways. Additional initiatives related to apprenticeships emphasize the importance of well-funded further education colleges for training and supporting apprentices, as highlighted by unions advocating for apprenticeship rights and quality training environments[3].
[1] GOV.UK. (n.d.). Plan for Jobs: Overview. Retrieved August 25, 2022, from https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/plan-for-jobs-overview/plan-for-jobs-overview
[2] HM Government. (2020, September 16). Plan for Jobs: Lifetime Skills Guarantee. Retrieved August 25, 2022, from https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/plan-for-jobs-lifetime-skills-guarantee/plan-for-jobs-lifetime-skills-guarantee
[3] TUC. (2020, October 1). TUC responds to government's Plan for Jobs. Retrieved August 25, 2022, from https://www.tuc.org.uk/news/tuc-responds-governments-plan-jobs
- The UK government's "opportunity guarantee" initiative, aimed at boosting apprenticeships and in-work placements for young people, falls under the broader category of education-and-self-development by providing tangible work-based training and placements as career pathways for young individuals.
- As part of the "opportunity guarantee," a new government service will be established to help businesses set up more apprenticeship opportunities, ensuring that education-and-self-development through apprenticeships becomes more accessible and attractive for young people across various industries.
