One in 10 people aged 15-19 is not in education, employment or
training. The Audit Commission estimates the cost of these NEETS will bea total of £25 billion over their lifetime in terms of loss to the economy, cost of welfare and so forth.
Meanwhile, higher student fees have resulted in the number of UK students applying for university places falling 8.9% in the past year. And social mobility is high on the Government's agenda, with Alan Milburn heading up
a new social mobility commission and Nick Clegg using 17 social 'trackers' to assess the success of Government policies aimed at boosting social mobility.
With this context it's no surprise that apprenticeship schemes are back in vogue. Announcing new funding for higher apprenticeship schemes this month, business secretary Vince Cable talked about apprenticeships being "an essential step in rebalancing our economy and building a fairer country where growth is spread evenly and opportunities are not limited to the privileged".
The Government is soon to bring out its recommendations following a review conducted by entrepreneur Jason Holt, into how to make apprenticeships more accessible to small and medium sized enterprises.
And Doug Richard is currently leading a separate, wider, review into the quality and standards of apprenticeship schemes - just as new standards coming into force next month guarantee a minimum 12 month duration for apprenticeships.
Given Government interest, what is preventing more organisations setting up apprenticeship schemes? In HR magazine's first HR Lunchtime Debate we have pulled together a panel of experts to discuss the benefits and barriers to setting up a scheme.
• Jason Holt, who led the aforementioned review into SMEs, is CEO of The
Holts Group of Companies, managing director of Holts Lapidary (a gemstone design and manufacturing specialist) and founder of Holts Academy of Jewellery, a not-for-profit social enterprise. He is also founder of Holition, an award-winning creative services agency specialising in emerging technologies and holder of the Queens Award for Enterprise
Promotion. Holt will be discussing his recommendations for increasing take up of apprenticeships among SMEs.
• James Watts is vice president of HR and chief people officer for KFC UK & Ireland, one of the largest divisions of Yum Restaurant International.
Watts is responsible for leading the people strategy and HR function in a business of 850 restaurants with 24,000 employees. KFC was the first restaurant company to create an advanced apprenticeship scheme. Prior to joining Yum, Watts worked in L&D and HR for the Walt Disney Company. Watts will talk about setting up a successful apprenticeship scheme within a large employer.
• Harmajinder Hayre is from legal firm Ward Hadaway and is the head of employment for HR magazine's new HR Legal Service. HR Legal Service offers a range of employment related services to employers of all sizes, giving City level legal advice at a value-for-money fixed fee price. Hayre will advise on the legal pitfalls to watch out for.
Tune in to HR magazine's first HR Lunchtime Debate, in conjunction with Commsight (an Opinion Matters service,) tomorrow at 1pm and take part in the debate through our interactive technology with onscreen research providing statistical data, feedback and insight as well as asking your questions to our experts.
All registrants will receive a free apprenticeship legal toolkit, courtesy of HR Legal Service, and a free best practice guide for SMEs, courtesy of Holts Academy.
To register for our inaugural HR Lunchtime Debate TODAY at 1pm please go to www.commsight.tv/hrmagazine/july2012
