AELP discuss in this article, the main barriers holding back apprenticeship starts for 16 to 18 year olds. They suggest the barriers are a shortage of non-levy funding, the lack of join-up between some Level 2 and 3 standards, the functional skills gap and a lack of learning support. Their response to these barriers is to have full funding for all 16 to 18 year olds, a learning account for all 19 to 24 year olds without a Level 3 qualification, funding for additional support from the employer/provider, funded digital skills training and an extension to apprenticeship frameworks if an approved standard is not in place by September 2020.
