Learning and Skills Council: Employers misunderstand apprenticeships

Apprenticeship schemes are broader than many employers realise, the Learning and Skills Council has said.

Business leaders tend to assume they are limited to manufacturing, construction and engineering, Stephen Gardner, Director of Apprenticeships at the organisation, noted.

He suggested that this may be why only 6% of employers provide such training for young people, but added: "It's a bit of a mystery, considering all the benefits that apprenticeships can offer employers."

Mr Gardner stated that there are now 180 different apprenticeship frameworks, in everything from accountancy and IT to media.

Employers are also put off by misconceptions about the amount of bureaucracy and red tape involved, he added.

This could be to blame for the fact that there were only 239,000 apprenticeship places last year despite a government pledge of 500,000 positions, according to The Telegraph.