Institution responds to Richard Review on apprenticeships

The Institution's Stephen Tetlow says it is welcome that the Government realises the importance of providing meaningful, targeted apprenticeships which meet industry standards and lead to real jobs.

Stephen Tetlow MBE, Chief Executive of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers said in response to the Government's plans to launch a consultation on apprenticeships following the Richard Review:

"It is welcome that the Government realises the importance of providing meaningful, targeted apprenticeships which meet industry standards and lead to real jobs. It would also be useful for apprenticeships to recognise key competencies recognised by professional bodies like the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.

"It is disappointing however that there is no mention of funding apprenticeships through a National Insurance or tax credit system - one of the key recommendations in the Richard Review.

"It is vital that any plans for apprenticeships focus on developing skills that are critical to the economy. Having a vibrant engineering and manufacturing industry is at the very heart of a healthy economy and we urgently need to increase the number of people choosing engineering as a career.

"Over the next 10 years, the UK needs to be recruiting about 87,000 engineers a year just to standstill.  We are currently only producing half this number."