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Government vows to help apprentices Government vows to help apprentices
(2 days later)
By Chris Vallance BBC Radio 4 iPM programmeBy Chris Vallance BBC Radio 4 iPM programme
We will be making every effort to ensure that every single apprentice will be helped in one way or other Lord Young, the minister responsible for apprenticeships in EnglandWe will be making every effort to ensure that every single apprentice will be helped in one way or other Lord Young, the minister responsible for apprenticeships in England
Luke Bassil, a 20 year-old apprentice vehicle technician based in Bournemouth, recently learned that he was being made redundant.Luke Bassil, a 20 year-old apprentice vehicle technician based in Bournemouth, recently learned that he was being made redundant.
Five months away from completing the second year of a three year apprenticeship, he is now struggling to find a new work placement.Five months away from completing the second year of a three year apprenticeship, he is now struggling to find a new work placement.
His situation is dire, though in the future such instances should not be repeated after the government recently vowed that apprentices in new public sector schemes will be able to complete their training, come what may. His situation is dire, and he will not be able to benefit from the government's recent promise that apprentices in new public sector schemes will be able to complete their training, come what may.
Earlier this month, Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced a £140m plan to create 35,000 additional apprenticeship places, of which 20,000 would be in the public sector.Earlier this month, Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced a £140m plan to create 35,000 additional apprenticeship places, of which 20,000 would be in the public sector.
And the government will "guarantee those apprenticeships" in the public sector, according to the minister responsible for apprenticeships in England, Lord Young.And the government will "guarantee those apprenticeships" in the public sector, according to the minister responsible for apprenticeships in England, Lord Young.
Wasted effortWasted effort
Before he was made redundant, Mr Bassil had been able to turn his enthusiasm for cars into a career.Before he was made redundant, Mr Bassil had been able to turn his enthusiasm for cars into a career.
Mr Bassil is concerned his efforts have been wastedMr Bassil is concerned his efforts have been wasted
The training had given his life a sense of direction.The training had given his life a sense of direction.
"When I finished school I never really knew what I was going to do when I was older," he says."When I finished school I never really knew what I was going to do when I was older," he says.
"Then I got a car and started fiddling about with it and I decided that's what I wanted to do.""Then I got a car and started fiddling about with it and I decided that's what I wanted to do."
Mr Bassil is passionate about cars.Mr Bassil is passionate about cars.
But if he cannot find a new work placement he will not be able to qualify as a mechanic.But if he cannot find a new work placement he will not be able to qualify as a mechanic.
Mr Bassil is a member of a growing number of existing apprentices who have lost their work placements and are unable to complete their courses at a time when unemployment is rising fast across the UK.Mr Bassil is a member of a growing number of existing apprentices who have lost their work placements and are unable to complete their courses at a time when unemployment is rising fast across the UK.
"I put my heart and soul into it and I got in the door and I've come this far," he says."I put my heart and soul into it and I got in the door and I've come this far," he says.
"Now it's all for nothing.""Now it's all for nothing."
Formal structuresFormal structures
Alongside his workplace experience, now halted at least temporarily, Mr Bassil studies with Paragon Skills, one of the largest private apprenticeship training firms in the South West of England.Alongside his workplace experience, now halted at least temporarily, Mr Bassil studies with Paragon Skills, one of the largest private apprenticeship training firms in the South West of England.
Mr Freed says some learners are struggling to find alternativesMr Freed says some learners are struggling to find alternatives
Paragon Skill's chief executive, Gavin Freed, says that within the motor industry they are seeing some "anecdotal evidence" of learners who are struggling to find alternative places if their employment comes to end.Paragon Skill's chief executive, Gavin Freed, says that within the motor industry they are seeing some "anecdotal evidence" of learners who are struggling to find alternative places if their employment comes to end.
Mr Freed would like to see formal structures put in place to help people like Mr Bassil.Mr Freed would like to see formal structures put in place to help people like Mr Bassil.
Matching serviceMatching service
It is not just the motor industry that has been affected by the downturn.It is not just the motor industry that has been affected by the downturn.
In the construction industry in England, some 1,200 apprentices have lost their places since the summer.In the construction industry in England, some 1,200 apprentices have lost their places since the summer.
In Scotland there has also been an increase in the number of construction apprentices losing their places.In Scotland there has also been an increase in the number of construction apprentices losing their places.
Mark Farrar, chief executive of ConstructionSkills, the body responsible for apprenticeships in construction in England, says there is an "urgent need to help those already in employment and training, who are now facing redundancy".Mark Farrar, chief executive of ConstructionSkills, the body responsible for apprenticeships in construction in England, says there is an "urgent need to help those already in employment and training, who are now facing redundancy".
As a result, ConstructionSkills has created a new matching service that has helped 350 apprentices find new places.As a result, ConstructionSkills has created a new matching service that has helped 350 apprentices find new places.
Further sectorsFurther sectors
But the story is different in other sectors.But the story is different in other sectors.
We will be making every effort to ensure that every single apprentice will be helped in one way or other Lord Young, the minister responsible for apprenticeships in EnglandWe will be making every effort to ensure that every single apprentice will be helped in one way or other Lord Young, the minister responsible for apprenticeships in England
The Skillsmart Retail, the skills council responsible for apprenticeships in the retail sector in England say, "news on apprenticeships is, in the main, very positive."The Skillsmart Retail, the skills council responsible for apprenticeships in the retail sector in England say, "news on apprenticeships is, in the main, very positive."
The TUC would like to see measures in place to make it easier for apprentices hit by the downturn to transfer to other areasThe TUC would like to see measures in place to make it easier for apprentices hit by the downturn to transfer to other areas
"We also need to be looking between sectors," says Caroline Smith, a policy adviser at the TUC."We also need to be looking between sectors," says Caroline Smith, a policy adviser at the TUC.
For Lord Young it is the matching service in the construction industry that points the way forwardFor Lord Young it is the matching service in the construction industry that points the way forward
"We think this should be expanded into other sectors," he says, adding that the government is looking at a number of ways to assist apprentices facing redundancy."We think this should be expanded into other sectors," he says, adding that the government is looking at a number of ways to assist apprentices facing redundancy.
Asked whether that would include support for private sector employers struggling to keep apprentices on, Lord Young suggested "it may well include that".Asked whether that would include support for private sector employers struggling to keep apprentices on, Lord Young suggested "it may well include that".
He is also prepared to make an even greater commitment related to the 20,000 new public sector apprenticeships.He is also prepared to make an even greater commitment related to the 20,000 new public sector apprenticeships.
"They're all guaranteed", says Lord Young, adding that he will be talking to government colleagues about the issue."They're all guaranteed", says Lord Young, adding that he will be talking to government colleagues about the issue.
And for apprentices such as Mr Bassil, he promises that the government will do all it can to help.And for apprentices such as Mr Bassil, he promises that the government will do all it can to help.
"We will be making every effort to ensure that every single apprentice will be helped in one way or other.""We will be making every effort to ensure that every single apprentice will be helped in one way or other."
This report comes is part of the iPM series of programmes, broadcast on Saturdays at 1730 GMT on Radio 4. Comment on this story at the iPM blog or suggest your own story idea http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ipm/This report comes is part of the iPM series of programmes, broadcast on Saturdays at 1730 GMT on Radio 4. Comment on this story at the iPM blog or suggest your own story idea http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ipm/