13.03.09
Network Rail calls for apprenticeship equality and reduced bureaucracy to help stimulate UK economic growth
Network Rail, one of the UK’s largest investors in vocational training, has called on the Government to support equality for apprenticeship schemes and reduce their bureaucracy to stimulate the country’s economy and get people into work.
Responding to the Government’s ‘Apprenticeship, Skills, Children and Learning Bill’, the rail company wants apprenticeships for people over 19 years of age fully funded and a significant reduction in the onerous external inspection, assessment and assurance audits that are plaguing successful employer provided schemes.
Currently, the Network Rail apprenticeship scheme is over inspected, which significantly increases the administrative burden on the company and diverts valuable resources away from the frontline training of apprentices.
Simon Kirby, Network Rail director of infrastructure investment, comments: “It is widely accepted that this country suffers from a skills shortage in key industries. Whilst we support many of the proposals in this Bill we are highly concerned that in its present form it financially penalises companies from investing in the mature age apprenticeships that are absolutely crucial to this country’s future and to its economic recovery.
“All apprenticeships should be treated equally and receive the same level of funding and support afforded by the Government to build a sound skills base. Not having funding parity in place makes it very difficult for us to budget effectively.”
The CBI’s Head of Education and Skills policy, Richard Wainer, said: “The CBI has also called on the Government to abandon plans to introduce prescriptive rules for apprenticeships over and above existing regulation, such as stipulating minimum time for off-the-job training. These would simply discourage more employers to get involved with apprenticeships.
“It’s now more important than ever that the Government does all it can to support firms, ensure apprenticeship programmes better meet their needs and champion the sort of training that companies such as Network Rail are so good at.
“We all want to see greater employer involvement in apprenticeships, so more must be done to tackle the mountains of paperwork and reduce the numbers of inspections. Strong business buy-in is a pre-requisite for high quality schemes.”
Over the next five years Network Rail will be investing £28.5bn in building a bigger, better railway. This investment will see a range of major projects undertaken around the country to deliver ongoing improvements in service capacity, reliability and performance for the direct benefit of passengers. This programme of works, which includes key projects the likes of Thameslink, Crossrail, Airdrie to Bathgate (Scotland) line and Birmingham New Street, will create hundreds of new apprenticeships and other project related jobs nationally.
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