Every Week is National Apprenticeship Week...

So National Apprenticeship Week is over for another year. I was fortunate enough to visit a number of different events covering different sectors and regions with an amazing selection of best practise and inspiring stories. One of the best bits for me was the ability to listen to so many people and reflect on where we are with apprenticeships as we start 2023. I have a series of different themes which I'm going to write blogs about in the coming days covering misconceptions of the apprenticeship system the role of regional coordination and collaboration as well as the topic of this blog, Inclusion.

If I go back a few years to my time at a large employer managing training provision, I was often struck by the way in which diversity and inclusion was talked about but quite often it felt like a CSR agenda. In other words, this was not something that was viewed as critical to the organisation but something someone “up there” felt we need it to be seen to be doing.

Reflecting on national apprenticeship week 2023 it was fantastic to hear every part of the system talking about and celebrating ‘Inclusion’ achievements in the broadest possible sense. From events in Cornwall to London and Manchester, employers and training providers were sharing their experiences and successes in reaching out to underrepresented groups and providing additional inspiration and support to help them at the beginning (or in the middle) of their careers.

To a certain extent, this is to be expected. 2022 was the toughest employment market ever seen in the UK. For the first time ever the number of vacancies exceeded the number of unemployed people. It really was the definition of a candidate's market. As a result, engaging with and bringing every part of society into the workforce became business critical. This is an area in which our own data led approach has supported many organisations across sectors as broad as engineering, professional services, digital, and media to name but a few.

As we look forward it strikes me that it is vital we do not lose this focus on Inclusion. It is still incredible to me that young people are twice as likely to be unemployed as the majority, as are those from ethnic minority backgrounds. For those in the lowest socio-economic groups, they are four times as likely to be unemployed as those from the most affluent parts of society. When done well inclusion is so much more than just thinking about one underrepresented group. It is a recognition that true Inclusion is just that – treating and supporting every individual as unique, no matter their background

Data from this year already shows that there has been a shift in the jobs market. The number of vacancies has gone down, mainly driven by the removal of many low salary apprenticeships in sectors which have particularly struggled to recruit. Candidates’ activity has gone up significantly however, and their demand for high quality roles has gone up significantly.

In 2023, it is vital that we do not lose sight of the progress made to deliver Inclusion across so many areas. From the way in which we inspire and engage the next generation, through to the selection process which is used, as well as support for individuals (and their line managers) so that we build on the successes of 2022. Building strategies that deliver inclusion is not just the right thing to do, but it also makes economic sense. No matter what your motivation is, make sure that ‘Inclusion’ is at the heart of your agenda.

www.thetalentpeople.co.uk