On 12 February 2016, the Sub Committee for Education, Skills and the Economy announced its inquiry into apprenticeships. The inquiry wanted to look at issues such as the Government’s target of three million apprenticeship starts by 2020, how the Government proposes to achieve this, and this may affect the ‘skills gap’ in the UK. The Sub Committee also wanted to focus upon the forthcoming Apprenticeship Levy, the proposed Institute for Apprenticeships, and routes to achieving higher level apprenticeship qualifications.

It invited written submissions that addressed:

• the target of three million apprenticeships by 2020, how the Government proposes to achieve this and how this may affect the ‘skills gap’
• the proposal for an Apprenticeship Levy and how this may be implemented
• the institutional architecture of current provision and how this may be affected by the proposed Institute for Apprenticeships
• take-up of apprenticeships amongst 16-19 year olds and steps that can be taken to make more young people aware of available opportunities
• the process of applying for apprenticeships
• routes for progression to higher qualifications for current apprentices
• the quality of, and minimum standards for, apprenticeships, and how standards can be enforced
• lessons from other countries’ approaches to apprenticeships.