Provisional figures for the first two quarters of the 2017/18 academic year (August 2017 to January 2018) for England show that there were 194,100 apprenticeship starts reported, compared with 258,800 reported in 2016/17 — a
decrease of 25.0%.

There have been 103,300 ‘levy-supported starts’ so far, of which 82,200 were reported in the first two quarters of 2017/18.

Meanwhile, 677,300 learners participated on an apprenticeship in the first two quarters of the 2017/18 academic year (based on provisional data), compared to 731,600 reported at this time in 2016/17 — a decrease of 7.4%.

Moreover, participation in government-funded adult further education fell to 1,495,300 in the first two quarters of the 2017/18 academic year from 1,537,100 at this time in 2016/17 — a decrease of 2.7%.

The number of learners on ‘Full level 2 courses’ declined to 269,400, while the number on ‘Full level 3 courses’ declined to 323,200.

However, learners participating on ‘level 4+ courses’ increased to 69,300, compared to 55,100 reported at this time in 2016/17.

Commenting on the data from the Department For Education on the number of Apprenticeship Starts, Tim Thomas — director of Employment and Skills at EEF (the manufacturers’ organisation), said: “With the headline figure showing a 25% fall in apprenticeship starts in the first two quarters of this year, this should be the final signal to Government that now is the time for a review and change.

While manufacturers are doing their best to push through the complexities of delivering apprenticeships, greater employer flexibility in using levy funds is needed, so they can expand provision and deliver even more high-quality apprenticeships.

“There are some ‘green shoots’ appearing in the figures. The increase in higher-level apprenticeships and starts on the new apprenticeship standards indicates a shift towards delivering more-rigorous high-quality apprenticeships, which will deliver the higher-level skills manufacturers need.

"Government should capitalise on this and implement the changes manufacturers have been calling for since the start, so employers can access the skills their businesses desperately need now and in the future.”