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Writer's pictureEastern Powerhouse

Apprenticeships in the East - High demand; low supply

Join us on 7th November at our 'Towards a Skills Strategy for the East' event


With reform to the Apprenticeship Levy high up on the new government’s agenda, here’s the latest snapshot of what’s happening in the East of England, based on August figures.

The total number of apprentices enrolled in the region has fallen by 15% since last year to just over 28,000, which is roughly in line with the national picture of a 17% fall.


The two most popular subject areas are Business & Administration, which includes a large proportion of accountancy and management courses, followed by Health & Care, with Early Years, Care Staff and Nurses topping the list. Engineering and Manufacturing comes third – plenty of electricians and plumbers – but with only half the numbers of either of the top two.  

Looking at who is delivering apprenticeships in the East, the top twelve (those with 1000+ enrolments) include 8 Independent Training Providers, 3 FE Colleges and Anglia Ruskin University, which delivers mostly degree apprenticeships. None of the ITPs are based in the East, though some have regional bases, so our strongest locally based providers are ARU, followed by West Suffolk College with over 2,000 enrolled, then City College Norwich and Colchester College, who each have just below 1,400 on their books.


Overall the state of play on apprenticeships in the EPH region reflects the national concerns which have led Labour to plan a more flexible “Growth and Skills Levy”. The number of applicants for apprenticeship opportunities is three times greater than the positions on offer; and the total volume of apprenticeships continues to fall, despite their popularity with the public. While higher and degree apprenticeships continue to grow, the rest are not, especially the proportion available for 16-19 year olds.


The East therefore reflects the national challenge to get more and better skills to improve economic growth and productivity, and to provide school leavers with greater opportunities.

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