In May 2004, as part of a larger announcement on Apprenticeships, Gordon Brown Chancellor of the Exchequer announced the Young Apprenticeship programme.

This announcement presented a radical reform to the existing Apprenticeship offering and highlighted the governments drive to offer more young people in the UK , the opportunity to learn more skills. Brown explained:

“The Government is strongly committed to expanding and improving the Apprenticeship programme in this country, which will aid the push towards our objective of full employment”

Helping to bridge
the skills gap

The Young Apprenticeship programme was launched in September 2004, with 1000 pupils embarking on Young Apprenticeships. The programme has continued to expand over the last few years and from September 2007, there will be a total of 12,500 young people embarking on a Young Apprenticeship across 14 sectors.

The Young Apprenticeship in Business & Administration is an opportunity for organisations to make a valuable contribution to the future direction of the UK workforce, helping to bridge the current skills gap in the market.

Aimed at 14–16 year olds of good ability, the programme is for pupils who are attracted to a more practical style of learning and who are keen to gain a taste of ‘real work' in a supported way. The pupils are based in school and follow core National Curriculum subjects, but for two days a week (or equivalent), over a two year period, they also work towards nationally recognised qualifications in the workplace and spend 50 days in a fully supported work placement.

Throughout their time in the workplace, the Young Apprentice develops a portfolio of work which is assessed externally by a training provider or college. The pupil develops essential business and administration skills and knowledge, whilst working towards a work-related and/or work-based qualification in Business & Administration. At a minimum, they will be equivalent to 2-3 GCSEs at (A*-C).