Clause 37
Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill
2:30 pm
Siôn Simon (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills; Birmingham, Erdington, Labour)
Clause 37 provides that the Secretary of State must specify the sectors, trades or occupations covered by the apprenticeship scheme and that he do so by order. The clause is necessary to the effective function of the apprenticeship scheme. Apprenticeship frameworks need to relate to a particular skill, trade or occupation included in an apprenticeship sector. Places on the apprenticeship scheme for young people need to be in a specified apprenticeship sector and young persons have to choose two sectors. For them to be able to choose two sectors, it needs to be clear what the sectors are and what the choice is, which is why they need to be specified.
Specifying the sectors across which apprenticeship places are to be available will also ensure that opportunities for tackling particular skills gaps or shortages are identified. It will also mean that the National Apprenticeship Service can operate its national vacancy-matching service properly, supported by sectoral knowledge and understanding of the sector skills councils. The clause is therefore critical.