Richard Review good news for future of apprenticeships

UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: 'We're pleased to see the Richard Review recognises the innovative work already being done by colleges with employers to create apprenticeships.

'We agree there needs to be a clearer definition of exactly what constitutes an apprenticeship and that there should be industry-specific targets for apprentices to achieve.

'UCU has long called for stronger employer incentives to train and believes the review's proposal for government funding for apprenticeships to be routed through the national insurance or tax system would get more employers on board.

'We do not see competition as an effective approach to the design of new qualifications for apprenticeships when we have existing qualifications bodies set up to do that very job.'