“While the speech was light on detail and policy, the Chancellor’s recognition that businesses need breathing space from rising costs is welcome, reflecting the primary concern from members of Chambers across the country. Greater business confidence and investment will be the driving force of the economic growth he seeks to achieve.
“If plans for a Local Apprenticeship Service under local Mayoral leadership are aligned and built to work for employers, it could substantially improve awareness of, and access to, apprentice opportunities for both employers and prospective employees.
“Apprenticeships are crucial for young people to gain real-life experience of work and take a first step on the employment ladder, while employers understand the benefits of training their own talent. However, businesses tell us there are multiple systematic hurdles, including funding and bureaucratic complexities, that impact their ability and desire to recruit and develop apprenticeships in the current environment.
“Designing this proposed service to counter these obstacles and help mitigate the wider cost pressures currently facing businesses is imperative if any plan is to truly succeed.
“Local Skills Improvement Plans are an excellent, existing mechanism to ensure the skills system responds more closely to what employers actually need. Using LSIPs and their employer representative bodies to help design, test and promote system change within our skills system would maximise the potential for schemes to positively impact the growth and talent potential of businesses.”
