What’s the deal?

Apprenticeship schemes to abandon unnecessary red tape.

Scrapping unnecessary bureaucracy is one measure set to make apprenticeship schemes more attractive to employers. A series of 'bureaucracy-busting' plans, to be published soon, will serve as a timetable for implementation that will seek further input from employers and awarding bodies.

Skills Secretary John Denham announced that unnecessary bureaucracy, such as demands to store paperwork for up to six years, multiple inspection visits and monthly reporting requirements will be ditched at the earliest possible opportunity.

The UK’s apprenticeships programme is a vital component of the Government's drive to improve the nation's skills. Over the past decade the Government has more than doubled the number of young people and adults starting apprenticeships, and anticipates that one in five young people will take an apprenticeship by 2020.

Mr Denham said: "Employers tell us that if we are to meet our ambitious aims to expand the number of apprenticeships, we need to cut the red tape around the programme. There is no reason why firms should have to deal with multiple copies of time-consuming paperwork, provide the same information to several different agencies, be expected to invoice government more often than is necessary, or have to undergo complex inspection requirements when they already have perfectly adequate systems of their own.

"The practical measures we have agreed will enable more employers to meet their present and future skills needs, unimpeded by time-consuming administration. The challenge from some of Britain's leading employers, based on their own actions to get rid of red tape and bureaucracy is the perfect base on which we will build."

This 'bureaucracy-busting' challenge has been laid down to the organisations charged with delivering the Government's apprenticeships programme, including the Learning and Skills Council, the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, awarding bodies and his own Department. The challenge has been broadly welcomed by leading employers.

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