The estimated yield derived from the Apprentice Levy has been revised downwards, according to reports in FE Week. According to the paper, revised government estimates show that the expected yield from the levy had dropped from £3bn to around £2.8bn over the next five years.
The AELP reacted the Chancellor’s statement by reiterating its disappointment that “The government hasn’t given assurances today that a minimum fixed budget will be allocated to non-levy payers for the next 5 years irrespective of how much money is left for them in the levy pot.”
“A cause for concern”
The statement went on, “We need to ensure that much needed apprenticeship places will be available to young people in towns and rural areas where large levy paying employers aren’t operating. The Statement included a reduction in the expected levy yield of up to £200m by 2019-2020 compared to the £2.97bn estimate by the OBR in its policy costs for the 2015 Autumn Statement. This gives us cause for concern about how much funding will be allocated overall. It is also the second downgrade that we have seen in the OBR’s forecast figures since the levy was announced in July 2015.”
‘Given the need before June to improve productivity and social mobility, the EU referendum result shouldn’t have been a consideration in protecting budgets for skills,” said AELP CEO Mark Dawe. “But there is no doubt that the likely ending of the free movement of labour has sharpened minds in addressing Britain’s post-Brexit employment challenges. Today’s announcements have been relatively quiet on this front but we hope to see more in the Industrial Strategy. The Strategy should underline the difference that properly funded apprenticeships and other high quality training can make to the productivity agenda and training providers with links to over 340,000 employers are ready to play their part.’
