To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to align the goals of the apprenticeship levy with the Government's industrial strategy.
Answered on
22 November 2016
The Industrial Strategy will have a strong focus on education and skills and apprenticeships will be an important part of the strategy. The apprenticeship levy will put funding on a sustainable footing while improving the technical and professional skills of the workforce, an important component of productivity.
We are well-placed to support the emerging Industrial Strategy and have already announced an increase in funding for STEM frameworks of 40% at level 2 and 80% at level 3. From April 2017, the Institute for Apprenticeships will work with employers to develop a better understanding of where apprenticeships can help address skills gaps.