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The IMI has warned of a “worrying picture” when it comes to apprenticeship starts.
It recently released new analysis showing that there was a 67% increase in apprenticeship starts in the full academic year 2020/21 compared to 2019/20. #
However, while this is 16% higher than pre-pandemic levels, the reality is that apprentice starts had slowed down considerably before the pandemic.
Joanna Hollingdale, careers and student membership manager of the IMI said: “Automotive apprenticeship starts have had one of the smallest percentage yearly increases, with only travel and tourism (no increase), manufacturing (1%) and sport, leisure & recreation (52%) with smaller increases.
“Yet our sector has played a fundamental role throughout the pandemic – keeping Britain moving – and has a significant contribution to make in the government’s Decarbonisation Plan.
“What particularly concerns us is the lack of take-up of the apprenticeship levy. Only 35% of automotive apprenticeships were levy-funded in 2020/21 compared to all apprentices that were 61% levy funded.
“With such a big task ahead of the sector in terms of being ready for the new automotive innovation – from ADAS and connected to zero emissions – it is crucial that employers build their pipeline of a trained workforce and the apprenticeship levy can play a vital role in supporting this task.”