Great flexibility on apprenticeships will bring benefits to businesses in Coventry and Warwickshire

One of the leading apprenticeship providers in Coventry and Warwickshire will tell the Government that greater flexibility will benefit businesses across a range of sectors and could lead to more opportunities for apprentices.

Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber Training (CWCT) is responding to the Government’s consultation on flexible apprenticeships, which could potentially be on offer from as early as January 2022.

Sally Lucas, Executive Director of CWCT, said certain industries were crying out for flexibility when it comes to apprenticeships.

She said: “Flexible apprenticeships are plugging a hole in the system, particularly for some sectors where project-based employment is the norm.

“Industries, including creative and construction, have found it difficult to take advantage of apprenticeships which require a minimum of 12 months of employment typically with the same employer.

“The notion of a flexible apprenticeship means an apprentice can move from employer to employer for short focussed periods which enables them to gain the necessary experience but in a manner which reflects the nature of an industry.

“For example, you have creative industries where varied and flexible job roles are commonplace and a full year in one role just isn’t practical for an apprentice. “If flexible apprenticeships come into force, employers will come together under an agency-type arrangement to facilitate the movement of apprentices within a sector across a number of short employment opportunities and, therefore, it levels the playing field for particular sectors that have previously found apprenticeships to be inaccessible.

“Anything that can add flexibility into apprenticeships has to be welcome and we will certainly be looking to work with those industries to move forward with flexible apprenticeships once they are given the green light.”