Select Committee Inquiry - The Way Forward for
Apprentices (Northern Ireland)
From: Northern Ireland Committee for Employment and
Learning
Date announced: 27 November
2008
Evidence due: end December
2008
Semta evidence submitted: 23
December 2008
Report published: 17 June 2009
Summary
At its meeting of 19th November 2008, the Committee for
Employment and Learning agreed to investigate how apprenticeships
need to evolve to be responsive to the skills requirements of the
modern global economy.
The investigation resulted from the Minister for Employment and
Learning’s statement to the Assembly on Tuesday 11th November with
regard to contingencies he is seeking to put in place to help
apprentices that have been made redundant in the current economic
downturn. The Committee took this as an opportunity to look at how
the current system of apprenticeships might evolve to be more
robust in the face of an economic downturn and be more responsive
to the fast-changing requirements for particular skills and skills
pools in the global economy. In addition, re-tendering for
Apprenticeships NI will take place in 2010, with preparatory work
starting in 2009. Ideally, the work coming from this investigation
will allow the Committee to partner the Department in shaping that
process.
The objective of the Investigation is:
- To collate and consider the opinions and views of the
providers, recipients and the utilisers of apprenticeships, and to
seek useful regional and international examples of good practice in
apprenticeships, with a view to producing a report of
recommendations to the Minister for Employment and Learning.
Terms of Reference:
- To establish the expectations and requirements of those
undertaking and providing apprenticeships and to relate this to the
changing needs of the economy with regard to skills;
- To identify and analyse relevant experience elsewhere in terms
of structures, practices and key targets/outcomes; and
- To consider the approach to apprenticeships required by
different sectors and determine how this might shape policy
interventions and programmes.
As a first stage it is hoped that the recommendations will form
the basis of a consensus between the Committee and the Minister’s
department. The second stage will be deciding how this consensus on
a way forward should inform the evolution policy on apprenticeships
to meet the skills requirements of a modern economy. Semta
contacted the Committee was invited to make a response, either
written or in person.
Semta made a full written submission before Christmas. David
Hatton and Bill Brown appeared before the Committee on 28 January
2009.
Next steps
The Committee's report was published on 17 June and debated in
the Assembly.
Documents and Links
Committee report
Debate in the Assembly on 22nd June
Semta
submission
Minutes of evidence for the inquiry
Bill Brown/David Hatton appearance before the
Committee
Semta represents the views of our employers across government
and the media. If you are an employer in the science,
engineering, or manufacturing technology sectors, we welcome your
views at policy@semta.org.uk
20 July 2009