This week marks the launch of the 18th annual celebration of apprenticeships and skills. National Apprenticeship Week 2025, linked to the Government’s Skills for Life campaign, is part of a vision for young people and adults in work that UVAC has consistently championed since 1999 through its championing of higher technical and professional education programmes, including higher and degree apprenticeships delivered by universities and higher education providers. It is great to see that the week of 10-16 February will also shine a light on other aspects of technical provision including Higher Technical Qualifications and T levels.
It is worth considering how apprenticeships and skills training should be focused and prioritised on the basis of the skills shortages and occupations needed in the economy and to deliver effective public sector services, regardless of apprenticeship level or the age of an individual. We need more high-quality apprenticeships in occupations needed by the economy. Apprenticeship spending should be prioritised in accordance with the impact on the delivery of the Government’s five missions. UVAC maintains that apprenticeship should be an all age, all level workforce development programme.
UVAC’s Chief Executive, Dr. Mandy Crawford-Lee, emphasises that addressing the UK’s productivity challenges necessitates optimising the effectiveness of the skills system. She advocates for a focus on upskilling the existing workforce through higher and degree apprenticeships, Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs), and flexible programs supported by in the future, the Lifelong Learning Entitlement. Such initiatives are crucial for developing a high-skill, high-productivity economy, especially in the context of current economic challenges and opportunities.
As National Apprenticeship Week 2025 celebrates all the fantastic successes in technical, professional and vocational education and skills programmes, UVAC stands by its commitment to advancing higher and degree apprenticeships. By fostering collaborations between educational institutions, employers, and policymakers, UVAC aims to ensure that these programs remain central to the UK’s educational and economic strategies, ultimately contributing to a more skilled and adaptable workforce.
