The recent decision by the Government to cut funding for Level 7 apprenticeships has sparked widespread backlash across the architectural profession. Writing in Architects’ Journal, Gino Spocchia reports on the deep concern and frustration felt by industry leaders, who have described the move as an “act of vandalism” — particularly as it places the entire financial burden of training over-21s on employers. 

Against this backdrop, our Chief Executive Dr Mandy Crawford-Lee shares her perspective on the potential consequences for the future of architectural education and workforce development.

“Clearly the decision will adversely affect all but a very small number of programmes with benefits remaining, for example, for the non-graduate route to solicitor and school and college leavers accessing career opportunities in accountancy and tax.

It is disappointing that this Government places little emphasis on the link between skills and productivity. Our view remains that there is no reason to expect that by reducing Level 7 funding eligibility it will make lower levels more attractive to employers or be appropriate to address the real concern about the number of young people not in employment, education or training (NEETs).

We will maintain the argument that leaving 16 to 21-year-olds levy fundable will do nothing but harm public sector plans to develop the skills they need and is, in effect, a contradiction to Labour’s Industrial Strategy, where it insists there will be ‘no glass ceiling on the ambitions of young people in Britain’.

It would seem that tackling NEETs is now the policy priority at the expense of developing the skills provision needed for a high-skill, world-beating economy. That said, we must focus on new opportunities and maintain our sector’s championship of the remaining high-quality programmes that deliver growth in business, efficiency in public sector services and open up progression routes to professional and managerial occupations. Sadly, for now, we can no longer advocate on behalf of an all age, all level apprenticeship system that is aspirational for everyone.”

Read the full article HERE