Apprenticeships: what's in a name?
Before trying to increase numbers, we have to define what actually qualifies as an apprenticeship
19 March 2015
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We seem to be in the middle of an apprenticeships 'arms race' between the three main political parties. They're all trying to outdo each other by pledging to create even more apprenticeships post-election.
Those promises are all well and good - and it's great to see so much enthusiasm around apprenticeships.
But instead of focusing on increasing the numbers, we need to start by understanding what qualifies as an apprenticeship.
What is an apprenticeship?
Apprenticeships generally last from one to four years, and are a mix of paid work experience and classroom time.
They're available in a variety of areas, from social care to social media, and lead to a recognised qualification. They're also created directly with employers, which means apprentices gain the skills that businesses want and need.
With those kind of benefits, it's not hard to see why politicians are praising apprenticeships. But the apprenticeships brand is under threat because of confusing uses of the word.
This is an excerpt from a blog that originally appeared on the Huffington Post.
Read the full blog from Chris Jones >