Pay firms to train young apprentices, says business group

BUSINESSES should be paid from public funds to train young apprentices for essential skills, a North West business group argued last night.

The leader of Private Sector Partners, Len Collinson, said the government should take toe radical step of moving school leavers away from college and classroom-based training back towards workplace learning.

Mr Collinson argued that businesses are deeply concerned about the “appalling” level of youth unemployment in the region, and the knock-on effect this could have on developing future managers.

“We must get young people working,” he said. “And nothing grabs the interest of young people more than work experience.

“Work experience, be it internships or apprenticeships brings results in all industries.

“As a general rule, young men and women have to be enthusiastic and have a desire to acquire skills, plus commonsense before they can be offered a job with prospects.

“The problem is that college-based learning often fails to give those basic needs. So it would make more sense to pay businesses to train youngsters. Businesses know the skills they need and want and are therefore better placed to train someone.”

Mr Collinson said he agreed with recommendations by the Government’s adviser Alison Wolf on reforming vocational education for the under 19s. Professor Wolf of Kings College, London, said businesses should be paid to train youngsters not in the form of a wage subsidy but for the specific training they offer.

“I think this concept is right,” he said. “Youngsters should be able to pick up a wide range of skills in a broad cross section of business. This is true experience – meeting different managers and seeing how the firm operates.

“The approach offers a depth of know-how that simply does not exist in any coherent and strategic form today.”

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