Boles said public sector bodies must boost apprenticeship possibilities as part of the government’s plan to create 3 million apprenticeships by 2020.
A new target will mean that a minimum of 2.3% of workers starting each year in larger public sector bodies in England will need to be apprentices, Boles confirmed. This will apply to public sector bodies in England with 250 or more employees, including 16 of the 24 ministerial departments.
Boles said the private sector was currently leading the way in training and hiring apprentices, which were available in more than 1,500 job roles from accountancy to butchery to engineering.
The public sector must catch up and create thousands more apprenticeships in every part of the public sector, from the civil service to the NHS to the police, he stated.
“Our apprenticeships revolution has already given 2.4 million people the chance to learn the skills they need to get on in life, with businesses leading the way.
“Now it’s time for the public sector to step up and give those same opportunities as we turbo charge our drive to give youngsters the best start to working life.”
