Column: Prioritising flexibility will unlock the true potential of apprenticeships
Posted on: 17th Apr 2025
Apprenticeships 
Neville Algar, Head of Education at Ignite Training, discusses how making apprenticeships attractive to employers will unlock their potential and help address the UK’s critical skills shortage
Enrolling colleagues onto an apprenticeship is an investment.
Not necessarily a financial one as we know in almost all cases for SMEs and corporates that training is funded entirely through the apprenticeship levy.
Regardless, it’s still a commitment which requires time – more so on the employees side – and a clear vision from the employer as to the skill gaps they wish to address in one or more departments.
Myself and Justin Merritt travelled to Liverpool last month to attend the annual Apprenticeships and Training Conference where guest speakers included Lee Owston, National Director for Ofsted, and Minister for Skills Baroness Jacqui Smith.
Baroness Smith’s talk reiterated the Government’s existing promise to create greater flexibility for employers when it comes to accessing apprenticeships and the required training, namely:
- Learners aged 19 or older are now no longer required to complete a Level 2 English or maths qualification if they haven’t previously obtained a pass.
- The Government is considering reducing the minimum term of apprenticeships from 12 months to eight.
Both of these changes – the latter if approved – will only provide employers with fewer reasons to not invest in vocational training, which is a positive in work to address the UK’s critical skills and knowledge gaps.
Right now, the current minimum duration of an apprenticeship (one year) does put some employers off from taking training forwards.
Apprenticeships are not intrusive, far from it. But committing to a 12-month programme can prevent employers from investing in the development of individuals and teams, which is why providing businesses with the option to take forwards a quick skill fix is so important.
Short courses where learners dip in and out of a particular module within a wider programme will help deliver this and unlock the true value of apprenticeship training. It’s an entirely new concept which was first brought to our attention at last year’s Apprenticeships and Training Conference in Birmingham by then shadow minister for skills Seema Malhotra MP.
The idea makes perfect sense.
There is a demand from employers to address certain skill gaps in almost all sectors, and equally tutors are available to educate existing employees about new trends and integrate the next generation into working environments.
It’s a concept we’re following closely, and one we’re keen to support and deliver to new and existing partners across our programmes in leadership and management, teaching, coaching, health and wellbeing and content creation.
We often talk about how apprenticeships help unlock the true potential of employees new and old. Now it’s time to practice what we preach and create a greater flexibility around vocational training so delivery itself is optimal and continues to make a genuine difference.
Neville Algar, Head of Education.
