Since the apprenticeship levy was introduced in 2017, there has been a 36% decline in apprenticeship starts by people from disadvantaged backgrounds. [1] This reflects a growing trend of a decline in apprenticeships, however, apprenticeships provide an opportunity to address the national skills shortage. According to the Social Mobility Commission, Apprenticeships can also be a powerful tool for social mobility if effectively targeted.
Edward Donkor is Engagement Lead at the Social Mobility Commission and is responsible for the Commission’s employers programme. As part of his role, he works across multiple sectors to create more inclusive socio-economic workforces and to diagnose the obstacles to social mobility.
In this video, Edward shares insights into how apprenticeships can support development pathways for all and provides a toolkit for employers to improve the accessibility and socio-economic diversity of their apprenticeship programmes.
[1] Gov.UK (2020), Apprenticeship system failing people from disadvantaged backgrounds
