ALP (Association of Labour Providers)’s Post

Last chance to register for tomorrow's webinar: https://lnkd.in/eMv6JmRK Young people in the UK are facing significant challenges in the workplace: • Employment levels are critically low (16-17: 22.5%; 18-24: 58.8%) • Unemployment levels remain alarmingly high (16-17: 24%; 18-24: 12.7%) • Economic inactivity levels are concerning (16-17: 70.3%; 18-24: 32.7%) In response, the government has launched the ‘Youth Guarantee’, offering every 18-to-21-year-old in England access to apprenticeships, quality training, and job-finding support. This webinar is free of charge for all who wish to attend. Not a member yet? ALP welcomes labour providers and those who use them as members. Join here: https://lnkd.in/e9JueuqX #ALPWebinar #AssociationOfLabourProviders #SupportingYoungPeople #YouthEmploymentUK

The economy needs to grow. There is a skills crisis emerging from the many skills gaps across all sectors. At the same time we have higher levels of youths seeking direct training through apprenticeships than ever before. Why can't they get one? Government and Skills England need to improve the apprenticeship system, but businesses also need to recognise their role in the solution. This article is very good in it's analysis. However it is also depressing for us to hear the same drums of construction and nursing etc being hailed as the key beneficiaries of apprenticeships. Events and Arts & Culture where are you?! Where is your voice in this? Why are you not beating this drum for your industries? Young people are changing the way they want to learn and enter work. If our sector doesn't clock this and catch up then the outlook is grim for our ability to deliver, and our standing as world class industries will slide. "... by the age of 18, over one-third of young people in Britain are in no form of training whatsoever — far higher than in comparable advanced economies." Time to step up. https://lnkd.in/exyTZij2

International evidence compiled in our Youth Employment Toolkit demonstrates the importance of apprenticeships, particularly for those from marginalised backgrounds in accessing employment, however we know not enough people can access them.   The Edge Foundation has released an important report today, which highlights the risks the government’s skills and growth levy could have on further eroding opportunities for young people, unless further policy development is undertaken to safeguard against this.   Youth Futures Foundation, alongside the CIPD recently called for the Growth and Skills levy to be developed to ensure at least 50% of apprenticeships are reserved for young people – a move employers told us they would be supportive of.   The report also importantly cites the voices of young people - featuring our survey of young people included in our recent 2024 Youth Employment Outlook and from the YEUK Youth Voice census which we are proud to support.   Young people must remain at the heart of future apprenticeships reform. If the Government is to deliver on its Youth Guarantee which we all want to see, this is essential. Read The Edge Foundation's report➡️ https://lnkd.in/efgYe2ui Read our research with CIPD ➡️ https://lnkd.in/enaf_mFu Check out our Youth Employment Toolkit ➡️ https://lnkd.in/erC66iwB Read our Youth Employment 2024 Outlook Report ➡️https://lnkd.in/e4grhKHr

This is an important article from yesterday's Financial Times. The UK faces a significant skills shortage now, and in the future. At the same time investment in adult skills training remains low. Labour's plans for Skills England and reform of the Apprenticeship Levy can play a key role in addressing the skills shortage, but any reform needs to be employer led. In my view there are some key points any changes need to address: 1️⃣ Give employers more flexibility - access to a wider range of accredited qualifications, shorter durations, etc 2️⃣ Ensure the qualifications offered address the critical skills gaps employers face (Digital skills being a key example), and avoid being limited by sector or level. We need advanced skills as well as entry level skills. 3️⃣ Make programmes and levy funds easily accessible, reducing the administrative burden that can be a barrier to employers (especially SMEs) 4️⃣ Ensure that access to Apprenticeships remain at the core of the reformed Levy If we achieve those 4 things I think we'll be heading in the right direction. #skills #skillsshortage #dataandAI #apprenticeships

Leaning into this post, something I have been speaking to the majority of candidates is the GOV Levelling Up Scheme. With a bit of luck this initiative should offer support for industry professionals to become new lecturers, without the financial hit some worry about. By focusing on subjects that have historically lacked access to high-quality education and training, the scheme will help attract talented educators to these areas. New lecturers will play a crucial role in upskilling the UK workforce, particularly in industries facing skills shortages like Engineering and Construction. The scheme offers cash incentives for educators, ensuring that more people have access to the education and training needed for today's job market. If you are interested in sharing your skills, and even developing some new ones...this scheme could be the helping hand you need to jump into education and make a difference. 📩Louis@nalaglobal.co.uk 📞07908 547732 https://lnkd.in/eTUn_H2A

Have you heard of Skills England? 📝 Between 2017 and 2022, the number of vacancies that went unfilled due to employers being unable to find candidates with the appropriate skills doubled to 531,200 (according to the Department for Education’s Employer Skills Survey) Skills shortages are now responsible for 36% of all job vacancies in the UK. As a results, Skills England has been established, a national body which will bring together businesses, training providers and apprenticeship opportunities across the country 📚 ✏

Apprenticeship Plans Must Provide Opportunities for All  Reacting to further detail on the announcement of reforms to the apprenticeship system in England, Alex Veitch, Director of Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce, said:  “Skills shortages continue to be a major concern for businesses and a drag on economic growth.  “The proposed new Growth and Skills Levy was a key part of the Government’s plans at the election. It’s welcome ministers have acted early to give more details about skills reform.  “We’ve long argued that the current Apprenticeship Levy needs urgent reform to make it more flexible. Businesses need a simple, coherent and responsive system that properly incentivises employer investment in training.  “To drive sustained economic growth, companies need a levy that funds training at all ages and skill levels. Any imbalance in the system will impact business investment.  “Higher level apprenticeships provide a non-academic pathway to progression for many people. We’ll be working with Government to make sure businesses have clarity on how Level 7 qualifications will be funded in the future.  “In the months ahead we’ll also be seeking reassurance that these planned reforms won’t place increased costs on businesses, who are still facing a challenging economic landscape.”  #Skills #LetsGetItRight

The latest Employment Outlook from the OECD-OCDE has been published! Entitled The Net-zero transition and the labour market, the report details how the green transition will significantly impact labour markets. The World Employment Confederation has contributed to the drafting of the report and welcomes its call to promote apprenticeships to skill and reskill workers! ➡️ Watch the video to learn more! #TheWorkWeWant #workingForYou

Youth unemployment remains a key concern in Europe.   Today, on World Youth Skills Day, the focus is on young persons who are neither in employment nor in education or training and what the EU is doing to help them improve their skills and integrate them into the workforce.   While each country is responsible for their own youth employment policies, the EU has stepped in to complement the work that is being done at national level.   These are:   ◾ The Youth Employment Initiative - a financial resource which targets young people living in regions where youth unemployment is higher than 25% ◾ The Youth Guarantee - a commitment by all EU countries to ensure that everyone under the age of 30 receives a good quality offer of employment, continued education, apprenticeship or traineeship ◾ The European Alliance for Apprenticeships - a complementary initiative to the Youth Guarantee which aims to improve the quality, supply and overall image of apprenticeships in Europe.   Check out our article to learn more about what the EU is doing to tackle youth unemployment: https://lnkd.in/eHNVg9pP

According to the European Parliament, data from Eurostat (2023) reveals that Belgium and Estonia are the only countries in the EU where less young women then men (aged between 15 and 29) are not actively involved in neither work nor education. Simply put into words: this means that statistically, these are the two only countries among the EU member states, where young women are more active working or studying than men. One could thus simply conclude that in countries, where men are more active than women, women tend to take a less active role in the work or study environment and rather commit to creating a family. Of course further studies of available data would be absolutely necessary, to verify this claim, starting with purging the age gap between 15 and 18 from the data set, where (presumably) less young men and women become parents. However, it is interesting to cross-reference this information with the data on Gender Pay Gap amongst the EU member states. While the unadjusted Gender Pay Gap in 2022 lied at 5% in Belgium—which could only be beaten by Romania (4.3%), Italy (4.1%) and Luxemburg (–0.7%)—Estonia scores highest with 21.3%.¹ This data could explain why Belgium would be a country where men and women work more or less alike (of course, there is still a gap), it however wouldn't apply on Estonia. A possible explanation could be the efforts put in place, to reduce this gender pay gap, leading to more women actively getting involved in studies or work than man. Interesting information, interesting data. To be followed up with more intensively through the links below, for those wo are interested in these subjects. 1. https://lnkd.in/e7FuD3XN