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| Apprenticeships plan outlined by government | Apprenticeships plan outlined by government |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| David Cameron has shared plans to increase the number of apprenticeship programmes that big businesses offer. | |
| Companies bidding for government contracts worth more than £10m must show they have a "reasonable proportion" of apprentices. | Companies bidding for government contracts worth more than £10m must show they have a "reasonable proportion" of apprentices. |
| "The greatest asset any employer has is their workforce," the Prime Minister said. | "The greatest asset any employer has is their workforce," the Prime Minister said. |
| "And by investing in them, they are investing in the success and future of their business." | "And by investing in them, they are investing in the success and future of their business." |
| The government also reaffirmed plans for an apprenticeship levy, with large companies investing in a fund that is used to train workers. | |
| "Skilled people are the lifeblood of a strong economy, but for too long UK businesses have invested too little in developing their employees' skills to meet the demands of a competitive, global market," said Skills Minister Nick Boles. | "Skilled people are the lifeblood of a strong economy, but for too long UK businesses have invested too little in developing their employees' skills to meet the demands of a competitive, global market," said Skills Minister Nick Boles. |
| A government consultation is seeking views on paying the levy, which is expected to be in place by April, 2017. | |
| The plan for a levy raised questions from EEF, the manufacturers' organisation. | |
| "With little detail of the level of the levy, who will be required to pay it and how much government will give back in return, manufacturers have a right to remain sceptical that the levy will create the three million additional quality apprenticeships that we all wish to see," Terry Scuoler, chief executive at EEF, said. | |
| He added that a number of large manufacturers "will be surprised by the suggestion from government that it is they who are currently failing to invest in apprenticeships". | |
| The government said levy systems already operated in more than 50 countries. | |
| Productivity boost | |
| The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) welcomed the announcement of the apprentice plan. | |
| "Apprenticeship schemes can play a part in meeting important ambitions to boost skills and drive-up productivity," said John Longworth, the business group's director general. | "Apprenticeship schemes can play a part in meeting important ambitions to boost skills and drive-up productivity," said John Longworth, the business group's director general. |
| But he added that plans to encourage apprenticeships should focus on small businesses, not just larger corporations. | But he added that plans to encourage apprenticeships should focus on small businesses, not just larger corporations. |
| "Government policy is currently too focused on major employers, but equal effort ought to be put on encouraging and supporting smaller businesses to offer apprenticeships," Mr Longworth said. | "Government policy is currently too focused on major employers, but equal effort ought to be put on encouraging and supporting smaller businesses to offer apprenticeships," Mr Longworth said. |
| The plan is part of the government's commitment to create three million apprenticeships by 2020. | The plan is part of the government's commitment to create three million apprenticeships by 2020. |