The report “Understanding Apprenticeship Progression” by Hannah Murphy and Emily Jones, published by the National Learning and Work Institute, offers an in-depth exploration of apprenticeship progression, focusing on employer motivations, barriers, and apprentice experiences. This article summarises the key findings and provides practical advice on using these insights to enhance organisational apprenticeship progression.
Key Points and Findings
Progression within apprenticeships is essential for supporting social mobility and representing a valuable investment for individuals, employers, and the government. The report defines progression as career development, characterised by increased responsibility and salary. This progression ensures that apprenticeships are not merely entry-level positions but pathways to sustained career growth.
Employers have several motivations for offering apprenticeship progression pathways. One primary driver is effectively utilising the apprenticeship levy. Employers also recognise the importance of meeting staff development needs, which improves retention and loyalty. Maintaining a talent pipeline is particularly significant in sectors with specialised skills requirements. The report highlights that employers with long-established progression pathways, especially in engineering, accountancy, and construction, tend to have more robust and structured apprenticeship programmes.
Despite the benefits, several barriers hinder effective apprenticeship progression. One significant challenge is the rigid alignment of apprenticeship standards to specific job roles. This rigidity makes it difficult for employers to adapt apprenticeships to their specific needs, particularly in technology-driven industries. The minimum length of apprenticeships and the 20% off-the-job training requirement are also seen as impediments. These requirements can be particularly burdensome for SMEs, which may struggle with the additional workload and lack of vacancies at senior levels, limiting opportunities for apprentices to progress.
Apprentice experiences further explain the attitude to progression. Apprentices are motivated by the potential for promotions, enhanced job performance, higher-level skills accreditation, and increased pay. However, many apprentices report that progression opportunities are not widely promoted. They often learn about these opportunities incidentally through employers or training providers rather than through structured career guidance. Factors influencing progression include the quality of prior learning assessments, the level of support from providers and employers, low pay rates, and personal circumstances such as caring responsibilities and health issues.
The report identifies several outcomes achieved through apprenticeship progression. These include securing permanent positions, promotions, access to higher-level learning, increased confidence, and clearer career ambitions. However, achieving these outcomes is not guaranteed and often depends on the quality of support received and the availability of progression opportunities.
Advice for Organisations
Organisations need to adopt several strategic measures to maximise the benefits of apprenticeship progression. Firstly, increasing awareness and promotion of apprenticeships is essential. Organisations should promote apprenticeships as viable career pathways within schools, colleges, training providers and the wider community. Sharing success stories and highlighting long-term career benefits can help change perceptions and encourage more individuals to consider apprenticeships.
- Promote apprenticeships as a viable progression pathway within schools, colleges, training providers and the wider community.
- Highlight successful progression stories and the long-term career benefits of apprenticeships.
Another essential area is supporting and facilitating progression. Organisations should map clear progression routes within their apprenticeship programmes, aligning these with overall career development plans. Regular support and check-ins with apprentices are key for discussing progress and addressing challenges. Ensuring thorough and tailored assessments of prior learning can help apprentices access the appropriate level of training, preventing the repetition of previously acquired skills and knowledge.
- Map out clear apprenticeship progression routes within the organisation, ensuring alignment with career development plans.
- Offer regular support and check-ins with apprentices to discuss progress and address challenges.
- Provide adequate English and maths support to meet progression requirements.
Enhancing flexibility and accessibility in apprenticeship programmes can also promote progression. Organisations should consider offering more flexible apprenticeship standards that can adapt to industry changes and specific job roles. Supporting SMEs in facilitating apprenticeship opportunities through partnerships or levy transfers can help overcome some of the barriers these smaller employers face.
- Ensure the prior learning assessment is thorough and tailored to support individual progression needs.
- Consider offering flexible apprenticeship standards that adapt to industry changes and specific job roles.
- Support SMEs by facilitating apprenticeship opportunities through partnerships or levy transfers.
Improving financial incentives is also important for making apprenticeships more attractive. Increasing the apprenticeship wage can significantly impact the attractiveness of apprenticeship progression, particularly for individuals with greater financial responsibilities. Organisations should explore funding opportunities or incentives for employers to offer higher-level apprenticeships and well-defined progression pathways.
- Increase the apprenticeship wage to make progression through apprenticeships more attractive, especially for individuals with greater financial responsibilities.
- Explore funding opportunities or incentives for employers to offer higher-level apprenticeships and progression pathways.
By implementing these recommendations, organisations can effectively support apprenticeship progression, benefiting both the apprentices and the overall workforce development. The insights provided in this report offer a roadmap for creating robust and dynamic apprenticeship programmes that meet the immediate needs of businesses and contribute to long-term career growth and economic development.
