Apprenticeships failing working class school leavers despite reforms

On April 6th, 2022, we published our report ‘Course Correction,’ that shows how a shortage of apprenticeships for young, working class people is undermining the levelling up agenda.

Authors of the report Francesca Fraser and Adam Hawksbee wrote for The Telegraph and the Yorkshire Post on why reforming apprenticeships is a vital part of the levelling up agenda.

The research was featured in a wide range of national, regional, local, and industry-specific media outlets as well. Find all the media coverage by clicking through the link cards.

Read the report: Course Correction

REPORT

Course Correction: Why we need to reform apprenticeships

Apprenticeships are failing working class school leavers, and will undermine efforts to level up without significant reform.

Teach First

A child’s future is no game: why we need to rethink careers education

Onward's report 'Course Correction', authored by Head of Levelling Up Adam Hawksbee, was referenced in Teach First's Careers Education Report on how to improve the apprenticeship system.

Manchester Evening News

The Northern Agenda: Is Boris Johnson at the races?

Manchester Evening News referred to Onward's report 'Course Correction', which said that a shortage of apprenticeships for young people was holding back the North.

FE Week News

Skills World Live Radio Show: Are apprenticeships in England working?

Senior Researcher Francesca Fraser spoke to Tom Bewick on the issue of apprenticeship reform over the past decade.

Letter: Focus on apprenticeships, not on low-value degrees

Director Will Tanner authored a letter for The Financial Times, setting out how apprenticeships serve as a great alternative to low-value degrees.

The Financial Times

Why the middle-class capture of apprenticeship matters

Sarah O'Connor cites findings from our report Course Correction on how apprenticeships are failing middle class voters

The Times Red Box

We can’t level up without reforming the apprenticeship system

Tom Tugendhat MP cites our research from Course Correction and encourages Government to adopt the recommendations we proposed

People Management Magazine

Fewer than one in five employers support the apprenticeship levy, CIPD poll finds

People Management magazine quotes Director Will Tanner in their coverage of industry opinion on the apprenticeship levy

The Liverpool Echo

The parts of Merseyside where the number of apprenticeships for young people have plummeted

The Northern Echo reports that apprenticeship starts in several parts of Merseyside have fallen drastically, citing findings from our research report 'Course Correction'

The Northern Agenda Newsletter

The Northern Agenda Newsletter

The Northern Agenda newsletter has headlined our report 'Course Correction,' showing how the 10 worst affected constituencies are all in the North of England

The Yorkshire Post

Orgreave transformation shows apprenticeships are key for levelling up

Deputy Director Adam Hawksbee writes for the Yorkshire Post, citing the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre in South Yorkshire as a model for integrated apprenticeship delivery

Radio News Hub

Lack of Apprenticeships Hindering Levelling Up Agenda

Radio News Hub covers our report 'Course Correction,' which found that the decline in entry-level apprenticeships is holding back levelling up plans

Politics Home

Apprenticeships are failing working class school leavers

Director Will Tanner wrote for Politics Home, discussing how the current apprenticeship system is failing to serve the group of learners that could benefit most from it.

The Daily Telegraph

The Government’s apprenticeships record makes a mockery of its levelling-up promises

Senior Researcher Francesca Fraser summarises our research report Course Correction, arguing that current gaps in the apprenticeship system undermine levelling up.

The Express and Star

Deprived school leavers in North ‘failed by lack of skills training’

The Express and Star reports on our research on reforming the apprenticeship system, citing our report 'Course Correction.'

FE News

Apprenticeships failing working class school leavers despite reforms, says Onward

FE News covers our latest research on apprenticeship reform and cites the findings and recommendations from the report 'Course Correction'

The Northern Echo

Think tank report says Government reforms hit apprenticeships

The Northern Echo reports on our research report 'Course Correction: why we need to reform the apprenticeships system,' covering our key findings and recommendations.

The Daily Mirror

Apprenticeships in northern England drop by a third despite PM’s levelling up pledge

Aletha Adu reports on 'Course Correction,' on falling apprenticeship uptake in northern England

The Financial Times

Apprenticeship levy opposed by most UK employers, survey finds

The FT cites covers our report 'Course Correction,' citing findings on the falling share of entry-level apprenticeships.

Utility Week

Thinktank calls for leftover apprenticeship funding to be spent on net zero training

'Unspent money raised through the government’s Apprenticeship Levy, which last year totalled £1 billion, should be used to top-up employer training for net zero skills, a right of centre thinktank has urged.'