National Apprenticeship Service
Encyclopedia
The National Apprenticeship Service is the government agency that coordinates apprenticeships in England.
At the time of its formation, the Labour Government up to that point had been heavily focused on persuading 50% of under-18s to attend university. In other European countries, much more focus is placed on apprenticeships; only 6% of English companies offer apprenticeships compared to 30% in Germany. In England, those who by age of 25 had been on an apprenticeship are likely to earn much more than those who do not, for similar qualifications (£100,000 over a career). A university degree is often quoted as improving earnng potential, but is highly dependent on choice of degree, and apprenticeships have a much higher success rate on earning potential.
, the Skills Funding Agency
and the National Apprenticeship Service. This was made concrete by the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009
, which was given Royal Assent
on 12 November 2009, which would abolish the LSC in April 2010.
Announced in July 2008, funding for apprenticeships would increase to £1 billion by 2011. By 2020 it was hoped one in five young people would be on a apprenticeship. It was initially planned to assess an apprentice's progress on a monthly basis, but following consultation with industry, this was reduced to every three months. The NAS was to take over responsibility of apprenticeships from the LSC in April 2009, and on 9 December 2008 first Chief Executove was announced as Simon Waugh.
was based in the same building.
An apprenticeship usually lasts for around one year, and apprentices are paid half the wage of a fully skilled worker. The government pays for the training.
History
At the beginning of February 2008 the Labour Government published a document called Strategy for the Future of Apprenticeships in England. It introduced the a quango, the National Apprenticeship Service. The National Skills Director of the Learning and Skills Council was to be in charge of the NAS. The LSC at the time had had most of its funding farmed out to local authorities. The NAS was to be part of the LSC, as outlined in the government's 2008 document on apprenticeships. Two new divisions in the LSC were formed at the same time - one for young people headed by Rob Wye, and one for adult education and training headed by Chris Roberts. All of the three new divisions were still at this stage part of the LSC, and not separate entities. At the time six government agecies had some responsibility for apprenticeships, but there was no overall leadership.At the time of its formation, the Labour Government up to that point had been heavily focused on persuading 50% of under-18s to attend university. In other European countries, much more focus is placed on apprenticeships; only 6% of English companies offer apprenticeships compared to 30% in Germany. In England, those who by age of 25 had been on an apprenticeship are likely to earn much more than those who do not, for similar qualifications (£100,000 over a career). A university degree is often quoted as improving earnng potential, but is highly dependent on choice of degree, and apprenticeships have a much higher success rate on earning potential.
The offer
The scheme outlined in 2008 gave all 16 year olds who had passed 5 GCSEs, including English and Maths, the option of an apprenticeship by 2013. Schools had to supply imformation on local apprenticeships available. Schools were not to promote one pathway over another, and had been known to previously undersell apprenticeships. It was all outlined in the Education and Skills Bill and the Apprenticeships Bill.New agencies
In March 2008 the Raising Expectations White Paper authorised the splitting of the LSC into the Young People's Learning AgencyYoung People's Learning Agency
The Young People's Learning Agency is a government organisation based in Coventry. It funds further education in England and apprenticeships for ages 16-19.-History:...
, the Skills Funding Agency
Skills Funding Agency
The Skills Funding Agency is one of two successor organisations that emerged from the closure of the Learning and Skills Council...
and the National Apprenticeship Service. This was made concrete by the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009
Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009
The Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It alters the law relating to education....
, which was given Royal Assent
Royal Assent
The granting of royal assent refers to the method by which any constitutional monarch formally approves and promulgates an act of his or her nation's parliament, thus making it a law...
on 12 November 2009, which would abolish the LSC in April 2010.
Implementation
Once the new apprenticeship division of the LSC was up and running in 2008, the numbers of young people starting apprenticeships rose by 20,000 that year. Ten years previously only 20,000 young people in England started apprenticeships, which had increased to 100,000 by 2008. In certain industries, notably construction, employers were more willing to hire Eastern European labour than take on apprentices.Announced in July 2008, funding for apprenticeships would increase to £1 billion by 2011. By 2020 it was hoped one in five young people would be on a apprenticeship. It was initially planned to assess an apprentice's progress on a monthly basis, but following consultation with industry, this was reduced to every three months. The NAS was to take over responsibility of apprenticeships from the LSC in April 2009, and on 9 December 2008 first Chief Executove was announced as Simon Waugh.
Launch
The quango was launched on 27 April 2009. Funding of the quango was split into those apprentices aged between 16 and 18 and those aged 19 to 24.Structure
It is based in Coventry. The Learning and Skills CouncilLearning and Skills Council
The Learning and Skills Council was a non-departmental public body jointly sponsored by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Department for Children, Schools and Families in England...
was based in the same building.
Function
It hosts Apprenticeships Week, which is held in the second week in February; this had been started in February 2009 by the LSC.An apprenticeship usually lasts for around one year, and apprentices are paid half the wage of a fully skilled worker. The government pays for the training.