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Tuesday 8 December 2015

Next apprenticeship scheme has been suspended

It is like every other government scheme I know from the YOP onwards. Public money goes into private companies but the scheme only benefits a few of the youth taking part. Most offers are for cheap labour and to massage government figures.

The latest apprenticeship scheme is no better.

"Retail giant Next has suspended a multi-million pound, government-funded apprenticeship scheme after a damning report from education watchdop Ofsted."

"Tory peer and CEO of Next Simon Wolfson has given over half a million pounds to the Conservative party in the last decade, and has been a very vocal supporter of Goerge Osborne`s pledge to create 3million apprenticeships by 2020."

"Ty an investigation by Glasgow-based Firecrest Films, to air on Channel 4 ... found that Next`s apprenticeship scheme has been rated `inadequate` by Ofsted, the lowest possible grade."

"In a scathing report, Next was heavily criticised for failing to provide sufficient support for apprentices, who can be paid as little as £3.30 an hour. Inspectors found a high drop out rate on Next`s training scheme with few young people graduating to a full-time employment at the end of their apprenticeship."

"The government`s Skills Funding Agency has forced Next to suspend taking on new apprentices as a result of the Ofsted report."

"But the retailer - which has over 500 stores across the UK and made almost £800m profits last year - is still getting money to train almost 700 apprentices still on its books..."

"The Conservatives have made much of their commitment to apprentices. Last month chancellor George Osborne boasted that an apprenticeship levy, due to come into force in 2017, will raise £3bn a year for training."

"Over the past five years, the number of apprenticeships has grown by more than three-quarters, to over 440,000 last year. But much of this increase has come in the shape of low-skilled apprenticeships in areas such as retail and hospitality. "

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