Welcome to UVAC’s General Election Hub with information and resources, as well as UVAC’s asks of the new government post 5 July 2024, for anyone looking to engage with candidates and those involved with the general election campaign.

Whichever party wins, and forms a new government, UVAC hopes that the previous success of apprenticeships and the role of university delivery in skills are recognised and that future policy builds on these successes rather than abandoning them.

UVAC STATE OF THE NATION: GENERAL ELECTION 

Friday, Jun 28, 2024

12:30 PM – 2:00 PM BST

Online

With less than a week before we all head to the polling station, UVAC will be summarising the manifesto commitments to skills and apprenticeships by the main parties and explore the impact on higher education and programme delivery.

REGISTER HERE

UVAC’S 10 COMMITMENTS NEEDED FROM A NEW GOVERNMENT: APPRENTICESHIPS

1.     Apprenticeship must remain an employer-led programme

2.     Apprenticeship must be developed and delivered as a productivity focused programme that can support the delivery of social mobility, social inclusion, levelling-up and the Net Zero agendas

3.     Apprenticeship must remain an ALL level and an ALL age programme

4.     Government must recognise and support the fundamental role Apprenticeship has in training the new and existing public sector workforce

5.     Apprenticeship must be developed and delivered as a programme appropriate for ALL, regardless of background

6.     Apprenticeship must NOT be promoted or developed as an alternative to Higher Education

7.     A national successful Apprenticeship programme will need the full involvement of ALL types of provider

8.     All monies raised through the Apprenticeship Levy should be spent on Apprenticeships

9.     Government should consider potential new flexibilities in Apprenticeship development and delivery to develop more SME engagement

10.  Consider how Apprenticeships are being used to tackle skills gaps and shortages, social mobility, the provision of public sector services and the Net Zero agenda

UVAC’S ASKS OF GOVERNMENT FROM 5TH JULY 2024: SKILLS POLICY

1.     To focus on the skills the economy, public sector, employers and individuals need to raise productivity, deliver public sector services and the net zero economy

2.     Skills needs at all levels up to and including levels 6, 7 and 8 (bachelors, masters and doctoral level) need to be considered in any debate

3.     Employers, further education colleges, independent training providers and universities, professional, statutory and regulatory bodies (PSRBs), other stakeholders and individual learners must ALL be involved in this debate

4.     Mistakes of the past must be avoided as too often there has been a failure to consider higher level skills and the role of universities in the development and delivery of skills policy

5.     If skills policy is focused on supporting the UK to develop as a high productivity economy, a focus is needed on higher level skills and the UK’s world-class university sector must be fully engaged

6.     There should be far more ambition with a focus on social mobility and progression into technical level roles, the professions and higher paid occupations

7.     Consider the role of general taxation in funding training programmes and how tax breaks and incentives (personal and business) could support individuals and employers spend more of their own funds on training and development

8.     Fund apprenticeships for 16 – 19-year-olds, for what is essentially compulsory education – like A Levels and T Levels – from general taxation

9.     Plug the shortfall in apprenticeship funding by other means, through general taxation or by changing the parameters of the levy

10.  Productivity should be the starting point for any incoming government approach to skills policy

WHITE PAPER WARNS OF THREAT TO PUBLIC SERVICES POSED BY REFORM OF GOVERNMENT’S APPRENTICESHIP LEVY

A white paper published 1 June, by University Vocational Awards Council (UVAC) warns that drastic reform or the abolishment of the government’s Apprenticeship Levy scheme will have a hugely detrimental impact on public services.

Download the White Paper HERE

Read recent coverage for UVAC:

HEPI Blog –  Lunchtime Reading: Does the Apprenticeship Levy need reforming? – Read HERE

CIOB People news article – Apprenticeship levy reform could exacerbate construction skills gap- Read HERE

South East Business news article – UVAC warns of threat to regions skills gap posed by apprenticeship levy reform – Read HERE

Manufacturing & Production Engineering Magazine news article – UVAC Warns Of Threat To Manufacturing Skills Gap Posed By Apprenticeship Levy Reform – Read HERE

The Intermediary news article – UVAC warns of threat to financial services sector posed by Apprenticeship Levy reform – Read HERE

IFA news articles – UVAC warns of threat to the financial sector skills gap posed by Apprenticeship Levy reform – Read HERE

Accountancy Today – Abolishment of Apprenticeship Levy threatens accountancy skills gap, UVAC warns – Read HERE

CLH – UVAC Warns Of Threat To Hospitality Skills Gap Posed By Apprenticeship Levy Reform – Read HERE

The Scotsman –Online – Read HERE

Hospitality & Catering News – UVAC warns of threat to hospitality skills gap posed by Apprenticeship Levy reform – Read HERE

Nursing Times – Warning that nursing would suffer under apprenticeships reform – Read HERE

CONSERVATIVE PARTY POSITION: UVAC RESPONSE

If the Conservatives are serious about tackling the UK’s low productivity and grow the economy, they need to utilise the expertise of our universities to develop the higher-level skills of the current and future workforce.

Read UVAC’s response to the Conservative Party Position HERE.

LABOUR PARTY POSITION: UVAC RESPONSE

Most commentators and indeed the general public want more, not fewer Apprenticeships. This means that Labour should increase not reduce Government spending on Apprenticeships.

Read UVAC’s response to the Labour party position HERE.

THE INDUSTRY AND REGULATORS COMMITTEE – UVAC RESPONSE

UVAC’s response to the Industry and Regulators Committee’s call for evidence for its inquiry into Skills for the future: apprenticeships and training is available HERE.

ADDRESSING THE UNCERTAIN FUTURE OF DEGREE APPRENTICESHIPS FUNDING IN CONSTRUCTION

Writing for CIOB People, Dr Mandy Crawford-Lee FRSA, Chief Executive, UVAC considers the uncertain future of degree apprenticeship funding in the construction sector.

Read the article HERE.

UVAC BACKGROUND INFORMATION

UVAC is the foremost authority on higher and degree apprenticeships, technical, and professional education and its mission is to provide an independent voice for its members, championing higher level vocational learning and supporting institutions in skills delivery.

As a not-for-profit membership organisation its members include universities, awarding bodies, and tech ed businesses. UVAC champions higher level vocational learning and supports Higher Education Institutions in delivering skills, apprenticeships, and technical education, emphasising work-based routes and valuing experiential and reflective learning. UVAC influences learning quality through research and collaboration with institutions, employers, and governments to enhance graduate employability.

READ MORE ABOUT UVAC HERE.