CBI urges Government to “take more time” over “making sure Apprenticeship Levy is right”
The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has responded to the Government’s launch of the Apprenticeship Levy funding consultation. Under plans unveiled by the Conservative Party, some £2.5 billion is being set aside for investment in apprenticeship training by 2020.
“We welcome the Government’s focus on growing investment in apprenticeships, and business stands ready to step up and increase its own commitment,” explained Carolyn Fairbairn, the CBI’s director general. “However, we believe the Apprenticeship Levy in its current form risks turning the clock back on recent progress through poor design and rushed timescales.”
Fairbairn continued: “Without a radical rethink, the Levy could damage rather than raise training quality. This really matters because of the crucial importance of closing the skills gap for improving the UK’s lagging productivity. The Government simply must take time to get this right, and listen properly to the concerns and ideas of the businesses who’ll be doing their best to make the Levy work.”