There will be no new starts on apprenticeship frameworks from 31 July, the Education and Skills Funding Agency has confirmed.
In its weekly update, the ESFA said it would “like to remind providers that all remaining apprenticeship frameworks will be withdrawn to new starts on 31 July 2020”.
The ESFA said this followed the government’s announcement in October 2018 confirming that from 1 August 2020, all new apprenticeship starts had to be on new, employer-designed standards.
“Existing apprentices on frameworks will still be able to complete on the framework, providing they started on or before 31 July 2020.”
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Mark Dawe, chief executive of the Association of Employment and Learning Providers, said not delaying the end of starts on frameworks was a “wrong decision” as the sector battled the coronavirus pandemic.
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He said: “With apprenticeship starts on the floor, it’s the wrong decision because it puts even more pressure on employers and providers when we should be maximising the number of opportunities available to young people.
“Sectors such as plumbing will be particularly hit, but it is also our understanding that the majority of framework starts are in colleges so the challenge will be greater for AELP’s college members.
“The loss of the business administration level 2 apprenticeship - a key route into work, particularly for young people looking to take the first step - is not a sensible move at all as youth unemployment starts to jump upwards.”
In Sutton Trust research published today, three in five (61 per cent of) apprentice employers said their apprentices had lost out on work or learning amid the coronavirus crisis. Around 36 per cent of apprentices had been furloughed, 8 per cent made redundant and 17 per cent had their off-the-job learning suspended.
