The 2015 manifesto for skills

It as launched today at the annual conference of the Association of Employment and Learning Providers( AELP) and sets out 10 key points for action for adoption by the main political parties in the run-up to the next general election.

AELP members are responsible for the training of more than 700,000 apprentices. They want a better targeting of resources in the government’s skills programmes when budgets are being squeezed.

The manifesto includes pledges to make young people ‘work ready’ by the time they leave school; target more resources at apprenticeships and the new traineeships programme and tackling the NEET issue by focusing on real work experience with employers.

AELP chairman Martin Dunford OBE said:

“It is vital that scarce government funds are rigorously targeted on apprenticeships and traineeships as the highest priority skills provision and that this targeted funding is properly made available to those providers with the demand from employers and best able to deliver successful outcomes.

“The level playing field necessary for this to happen is undoubtedly better balanced than in the past but we are still not there yet. We cannot continue to have providers of any type underperforming – yet retaining funding – while others are unable to obtain the resources they need to meet the immediate demand from employers, potential apprentices and those needing a traineeship to avoid joining the unacceptably high cohort of ‘NEETs’.”

AELPrecommends in the manifesto that high quality apprenticeships should be the preferred route for improving people’s skills and that we should be increasing the number of people on the programme substantially – presently estimated to be around 750,000.

It believes that the number of SMEs offering apprenticeships can also be increased through the existing network of providers and colleges, provided that the funding system is further reformed to respond better to evidenced demand. However, providers remain very concerned that the introduction of learner loans for adults in August will have an adverse impact on efforts to grow the programme.

The skills minister, Matthew Hancock, and his shadow, Gordon Marsden, will both be speaking tomorrow, on the second day at the AELPnational conference, where the issues covered in the manifesto will be debated.

A recent Central Lobby interview with the newly announced AELP Chief Executive Stewart Segal is here: http://polho.me/ZhNKxF