Recent YouGov findings revealing that less than one in 12 students aged 15 to 18 are being advised to seek a work based apprenticeship, coupled with a 61% decrease in the number of people starting apprenticeships, shows how educators and employers urgently need to “wake up”, says CIPHE spokesperson Kevin Wellman.
The CEO of the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE) commented: “The skills gap in the UK has been widely publicised for a number of years now, which makes the current state of communication around apprenticeships and uptake, or lack thereof, all the more disappointing. We are now in a position where, if educators and employers don’t wake up and address this problem, the future of vocational industries in the UK will be bleak.”
With the prospect of Brexit looming and the uncertainty this brings with it, Kevin believes there is even more reason to act quickly:
“What is clear is that if we are to address the skills shortage and safeguard our industry, especially post-Brexit, more needs to be done across all fronts to encourage change, and not just the bare minimum. This means associations like the CIPHE promoting apprenticeships to members, and also working with consumer bodies to educate the public at large, especially parents. This way we are covering all bases by sharing benefits of employing an apprentice with those in the trade, and giving caregivers of school age learners the insight to also be able to discuss apprenticeships.”
The CIPHE is celebrating apprentices in the plumbing and heating sector with a special Apprentice Awards ceremony on 15th November.
