Member Article

Apprenticeships added £3.7 billion to the Yorkshire economy in 2014

The changing nature of apprenticeships over the last 100 years has been documented in two new studies.

While research by Ancestry.co.uk and the University of Lincoln paints a compelling picture of the journey apprenticeships have made during the last century, new findings from the Centre for Economic and Business Research (Cebr) shows the impact that apprentices are having on the local economy today.

The Ancestry and University of Lincoln research reveals significant changes to the sectors and roles apprentices are working in. Indeed, the sector that employed the most apprentices in 1914 was dressmaking, compared to health and social care today. But in contrast, engineering and construction related apprenticeships feature as prominently today as they did in 1914.

The historical research also points to a change in the demographic of apprentices. In fact, one hundred years ago women made up only 22% of apprentices. Today they count for 55%.

The study was compiled using 1911 census data from Ancestry and combined with a review of historical research conducted by the University of Lincoln. It comes as a report by the Centre for Economics and Business Research reveals that apprenticeships will contribute around £3.7 billion to Yorkshire and Humber’s economy in 2014 and £34 billion to the UK economy as a whole.

The Cebr report goes on to find that for every £1 spent on apprenticeships, the national economy gains £21. It also predicts that if the upward trend in apprentice recruitment continues, the national economy could be set to gain £50 billion by 2025 and £101 billion by 2050.

Sue Husband, Director of Apprenticeships at the National Apprenticeship Service said: “The employers of yesterday, like those of today, recognised the value of apprenticeships in equipping people with the skills businesses required. Today our apprentices enjoy quality apprenticeship frameworks, their training is funded by the government and employers, their tools are provided, they have access to higher education, and they receive further support from employers through mentoring.

“We urge employers to take stock of what has been achieved in the last century and to consider how apprenticeships could contribute to their business and the wider economy in the years to come,” she added.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Robert Beaumont .