Rising costs 'put people off' apprenticeships claim

Julia Gray, City of Bristol College principal, said rising living costs are putting people off applying for apprenticeships

People are being put off applying for apprenticeships due to wage levels and rising living costs, according to a college principal.

Government figures show that the number of people starting an apprenticeship has dropped over the past decade.

In Bristol, 570 fewer people started apprenticeships last year compared to 2015/2016, a drop of 17 per cent.

City of Bristol College principal, Julia Gray, said. "It's challenging for people to access training."

The government said it has "transformed" the sector so that there is "something for everyone".

• Apprentices help power city's £200m regeneration

• Town clerk celebrates successful apprenticeship

• Nuclear build apprentices 'love' their jobs

Angelo Capasso said he wanted to start working straight away, rather than going down the apprenticeship route

However, according to Ms Gray, the cost of living can have a big impact on whether people decide to take up a training scheme.

"[It's difficult] when the cost of travelling might be going up, or the cost of food or living arrangements are increasing, but the wages they're getting aren't increasing in line."

Speaking to BBC Bristol at City of Bristol College's annual jobs and apprenticeships fair, 18-year-old Angelo Capasso, who is studying catering, said he wanted to start working straight away, rather than going down the apprenticeship route.

"At first the thought of working in the catering industry was intimidating, but as I learnt new skills and progressed in the kitchen I thought 'right, this is life and I can confront this'," he said.

Labour MP for Bristol South, Karin Smyth, said Labour wanted to see a "bit more flexibility" for businesses offering apprenticeships

'More flexibility'

Labour MP for Bristol South, Karin Smyth, said the fall in the number of people starting apprenticeships was even greater in her constituency, with a third fewer places being taken up compared to a decade ago.

She said a "major problem" was the Apprenticeship Levy - the current method of government funding, levying 0.5% from employers with an annual salary bill of over £3m to invest in training.

At present, 2% of employers are eligible to pay the levy.

"What Labour want to see is a bit more flexibility, we want to change the levy to a growth and skills' levy so that it fits with businesses better," said Ms Smyth.

Apprenticeships do still, however, offer many school-leavers an attractive path into a guaranteed job.

Riley Moore, who also attended the City of Bristol College's fair, said he wanted to do a building apprenticeship after completing his GCSEs.

"I want to have it on paper that I can do something; working on a project, seeing the finished product and putting a smile on people's faces gives me butterflies in my tummy," he said.

A spokesperson for the Department for Education said: "We are increasing investment in apprenticeships to £2.7 billion by 2024/2025 to help more businesses of all sizes offer apprenticeship opportunities."

The City of Bristol College hosts an annual jobs and apprenticeships fair