What could a general election mean for apprenticeships?

Labour and the Conservatives have competing approaches when it comes to apprenticeships and funding young workers. But how are they supporting small businesses?

Rishi Sunak lays a brick during a workshop at Cannock College to promote apprenticeships and support from the Tories
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Many small businesses will be watching the political debate over apprenticeships with keen interest. While Labour and the Conservatives may have competing visions of how apprenticeship schemes should work in future, one thing is not in dispute: the number of smaller firms taking on apprentices has dwindled in recent years.

That’s largely because the Apprenticeship Levy, the government’s flagship policy on apprenticeship funding, was designed with bigger firms in mind. Smaller businesses are worried about the cost of funding apprenticeships, but also find it difficult to navigate a complex regulatory and administrative system. Nor have training providers done a good job of supporting employers.

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David Prosser
Business Columnist

David Prosser is a regular MoneyWeek columnist, writing on small business and entrepreneurship, as well as pensions and other forms of tax-efficient savings and investments. David has been a financial journalist for almost 30 years, specialising initially in personal finance, and then in broader business coverage. He has worked for national newspaper groups including The Financial Times, The Guardian and Observer, Express Newspapers and, most recently, The Independent, where he served for more than three years as business editor.