What does the end of the Business Admin Level 2 apprenticeship signify?

It’s the end of the road for Level 2 Business Administration apprenticeships, as the plans for a level 2 standard have been rejected. Whilst this isn’t surprising - after various pleas from employers to develop a replacement standard - the final decision has been reached, and it isn’t good news. 

The framework will be switched off for new learners on 31st July, leaving employers and learners without an intermediate apprenticeship option for business admin. When you consider that 59% of those on the framework version of the programme in the first quarter of 19/20 are under the age of 19, it seems we may be doing a real disservice to our younger learners looking to get their foot on the career ladder. 

My main concern, as leader of one of the UK’s largest training providers, is that we are at a huge risk of seeing young people without maths and English GCSEs struggling to access apprenticeships within this area, as they won’t be eligible to go straight onto a level 3. 

The learners that we will be potentially turning away are the ideal candidate for a lower level apprenticeship programme; they need further study and an apprenticeship would allow them to gain support with functional skills. These learners develop skills beyond their qualification, and it’s a step in the right direction to get them into permanent employment. 

Rejections of the proposal have cited that the programme doesn’t have enough stretch to require 12 months in employment and training, with concerns also being raised over the overlap with the level 3 standard. The worry for employers now is that those entry level roles will no longer be suitable for apprentices as they won’t be challenging enough to meet the scope for a level 3 programme. 

SMEs will feel the burn the most, as they won’t be able to hire apprentices for those entry level jobs which inevitably means higher wage bills, and less vacancies and opportunities for our young people. 

It’s likely that learners will have to undertake functional skills training before beginning their apprenticeship programme so that they can begin at Level 3 - but there still needs to be vacancies that are challenging enough to meet the criteria. It’s bad news for learners, and bad news for employers. 

With the deadline of 31st July looming, businesses are going to need to act quickly if they’ve been considering taking on a Level 2 apprentice. Although new starts will still be accepted up until the deadline - employers need to think about strategies for the future when it comes to their apprentice recruitment and workforce training. 

Although we’re seeing a huge increase in the number of people studying advanced and higher level apprenticeship programmes, Level 2 Business Administration had 19,000 starts in 18/19, the second highest number of starts of all apprenticeship frameworks. It’s likely that the abolition of the programme will have a huge impact on training within the sector. 

Training providers are going to have to look at other funding avenues to support those learners into finding employment and gaining skills and qualifications to help them move up the ladder. 

It’s going to be more important than ever that training providers have strong and solid links with employers to be able to support them with other training routes outside of apprenticeships. Providers are going to have to start utilising other funding options available including AEB, such as the Level 2 Certificate in Business Administration, which would be a good foundation of learning before enrolling onto a Level 3 apprenticeship programme. 

My advice for FE providers would be to look at alternative funding options so that learners still have access to relevant qualifications. It’s vital that providers utilise AEB and ESF funding streams to ensure that learners aren’t missing out. 

Employers will need to look at alternative ways of recruiting for entry level positions, or add scope to roles to allow them to meet criteria for level 3 to allow them to recruit an apprentice. 

It’s important that we focus on solutions to ensure that skills gaps can be lowered and opportunities are still available for our young people looking for their first step into the workplace.  

I’d love to hear other people's feedback and opinions on the decision to end Level 2 Business Admin apprenticeships. Do you think it will have a big impact on your business? Let me know in the comments!