Apprenticeships and social mobility: new report shows the system is failing people from disadvantaged backgrounds

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  • General news

03 July 2020

Apprentice

A study from the Social Mobility Commission, an independent advisory non-departmental public body, highlights that workers from disadvantaged backgrounds (the 20% most socio-economically deprived neighbourhoods) are being left behind by the apprenticeship system, while most of the benefits of apprenticeships are going to more privileged learners.

The report confirms that apprenticeships can be a highly effective means of boosting social mobility for workers from poorer backgrounds, despite the barriers they face. However, since the introduction of the Apprenticeship Levy in 2017, the number of starts by people from disadvantaged backgrounds has dropped by 36% compared to 23% for other groups.

Analysis in the report also shows that disadvantage gaps open up at every stage of the apprenticeship training process, from employer candidate selection to training quality and pay rates after completion and that this has worsened over time. Other findings include:

  • just 13% of apprenticeship places at degree-level, the fastest growing and most expensive apprenticeship option, go to people from disadvantaged backgrounds
  • apprentices from disadvantaged backgrounds earn less than those from more privileged backgrounds
  • completed apprenticeships boost the wages for learners from disadvantaged backgrounds by 16%, compared to 10% for other groups
  • disadvantaged apprentices are less likely than their more privileged peers to complete their course
  • the impact is even greater for older (aged 25+) and female apprentices.

The report expresses concerns that, following the COVID-19 pandemic, disadvantaged apprentices are at even greater risk from an economic decline, with many employed in hard-hit sectors such as hospitality and retail. It calls for action to better target the apprenticeships system towards disadvantaged communities and improve its impact on social mobility outcomes as part of the Government’s ‘levelling up’ policy.

IWFM is a long-time advocate of the opportunities that apprenticeships can offer and the role they can play in upskilling and improving productivity in the workplace. By helping to create the workplace and facilities managers of the future, apprenticeships remain a key part of the solution to the skills gap impacting this profession.

The full report ‘Apprenticeships and social mobility: Fulfilling potential' can be found here.

To find out more about apprenticeships in FM visit our webpage.