date: 25 February 2008

embargo: 00.01hrs Tuesday 26 February

TUC and FSB join forces to press for better recognition of apprenticeships

To mark the beginning of the first ever Apprenticeships Week, the two main organisations representing small businesses and employees have joined forces to stress the importance of apprenticeships.

The FSB supports the TUC call for an increase in the minimum weekly wage for apprentices from £80 to £110, once legislation has been passed to extend wage contributions to small employers who are taking on an apprentice. £110 for a 35-hour week would bring apprenticeships broadly in line with the minimum wage youth rate (£3.40 an hour).

The TUC and the FSB believe that further increasing completion levels is crucial to improving the quality and reputation of apprenticeships. And with research from the Modern Apprenticeship Task Force showing a link between poor apprenticeship pay and low completion rates, raising pay would help more trainees to complete their courses.

The TUC and FSB are also determined to boost diversity within apprenticeships. More women should be given a route into non-traditional roles and ethnic minorities and disabled people need greater access to high quality apprenticeships.

The TUC and FSB believe that apprenticeships provide the life skills and employment experience that are vital for people entering the workplace today. Small businesses are one of the leading providers of apprenticeships and further improving quality will encourage more employers to take on apprentices.

TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: 'Apprenticeships are a great way for people to earn and learn, while employers benefit from skilled workers. The quality and diversity of apprenticeships must improve if they are to grow over the next decade. Completion rates are an important indicator of quality, and improving pay is crucial to ensuring that people can afford to complete their course. Increasing the minimum pay for apprentices to £110 a week will boost their reputation and convince more people to train.'

FSB National Chairman John Wright said: 'Apprenticeships provide employees with the tools to lead an active and rewarding working life and employers can only benefit from this. We are delighted that the Government is promoting apprenticeships, and feel it is right for a 35 hour working apprentice to be paid £110 a week so long as the Government extends the offer of wage contribution towards apprenticeships through Train to Gain'.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

- The Apprenticeship Summit 2008, hosted by the Learning and Skills Council, is part of the first ever Apprenticeships week, 25-29 February 2008.

- According to the Labour Force Survey, 69% of apprentices train in workplaces with fewer than 50 staff.

- World class Apprenticeships: Unlocking talent, Building Skills for All - section 5.16 - 5.17 states that employers with fewer than 50 employees will be eligible for a contribution to wage costs for employees when they undertake an apprenticeship.

- The final report of the Apprenticeship Task Force (2005) concluded that pay plays a significant role in non-completion of apprenticeships. The Apprenticeships Task Force was established in 2003 by the then Chancellor to increase employer involvement in apprenticeships and advise on the changing needs of employers and young people.

- Small businesses employ 58% of the private sector workforce, contribute over 50% of UK GDP and make up more than 99% of all UK businesses.

- The FSB is Britain's biggest business organisation with over 210,000 members. It exists to protect and promote the interests of the self-employed, and all those who run their own business. More information is available at www.fsb.org.uk.

- All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk

- Register for the TUC's press extranet: a service exclusive to journalists wanting to access pre-embargo releases and reports from the TUC. Visit www.tuc.org.uk/pressextranet

Contacts:

Media enquiries:
Rob Holdsworth T: 020 7467 1372 M: 07717 531150 E: rholdsworth@tuc.org.uk

Press release (700 words) issued 26 Feb 2008