Comment: David Phoenix responds to BIS Committee Report on Government’s Productivity Plan
London South Bank University Vice Chancellor David Phoenix comments on a report from MPs regarding the Government's apprenticeship policyProfessor David Phoenix, Vice-Chancellor of London South Bank University (LSBU) responds to a report from the Business, Innovation and Skills Committee on the Government’s Productivity Plan.
The report emphasises the need for further consultation with industry on the development of the Government’s apprenticeship policy.
David Phoenix said: “A key tool of the Government’s Productivity Plan is the apprenticeship levy, which if implemented successfully, could support businesses to invest in skills through a range of different qualifications and training methods to suit their specific needs.
“However, under current proposals employers cannot use their levy contributions to upskill their workforce through the support of employer-sponsored degrees, where employers not only pay the salaries of their students, but also fund their tuition fees, provide on the job training and time off for study. Such programmes have proven to be both popular and successful in the UK; they provide tuition of the highest quality to over 250,000 degree level students, a much greater number than any published ambition for higher or degree apprentices."
Find out more about employer sponsored study at LSBU.