The Prime Minister has committed to reforming the Apprenticeship Levy in a move long argued for by ScreenSkills.
Boris Johnson has announced that the Department for Education would update the House of Commons on proposals for reform in due course.
ScreenSkills has been working with the Government on moves to make the levy work for the screen industries and enable companies across the sector to use more of what they pay in. Research we conducted with Creative & Cultural Skills suggested that as much as £15 million paid by film, television, VFX, animation and games cannot be used by the industry under the current apprenticeship rules. We have argued for a more flexible skills fund.
Robert Halfon MP asked the Prime Minister about the levy in the House of Commons this week. “Despite the clear improvement in educational standards and funding, white working-class boys massively underperform at every stage of the education system compared with their better-off peers. Given the exciting infrastructure projects on the horizon and the high-value apprenticeships that will be unleashed, does my right honourable friend agree that reforming the apprenticeship levy and investing in apprenticeships will allow us to ensure that white working-class boys climb the skills ladder of opportunity?”
Boris Johnson said apprenticeships played “a vital part” in the progression of these young people. “It is right that we should follow his advice—he has been on this for a while now—and reform the apprenticeship levy…The Secretary of State for Education will be updating the House in due course on our proposals.”
ScreenSkills will continue to lobby Government on this issue.