Key facts
- Alan Milburn will propose a new national pre-apprenticeship route in England.
- The scheme aims to help young people lacking qualifications, confidence, or work experience.
- The number of under-19s enrolling on an apprenticeship has almost halved in a decade.
- As few as one in five apprenticeship starts currently go to a 16- to 18-year-old.
- The proposed route would combine English and maths with technical learning and employer experience.
- The report's recommendations have been delayed until after the October 28 budget.
Alan Milburn, leading a review into Britain’s youth jobs crisis, is set to propose the introduction of a national pre-apprenticeship scheme in England. The initiative aims to address the gap for young people between leaving school and securing a full apprenticeship, particularly those lacking qualifications, confidence, or work experience.
The former Labour cabinet minister's final report, which has been delayed until after the upcoming budget, highlights a dramatic plunge in youth apprenticeship starts and a rise in youth unemployment. Currently, only about one in five apprenticeship starts are for 16- to 18-year-olds, and the number of under-19s enrolling on apprenticeships has nearly halved in a decade. Milburn's proposed route would be delivered through further education colleges, combining English and maths with technical learning and hands-on experience with employers, drawing inspiration from a similar pathway in Austria.
The government is reportedly exploring significant welfare reforms, including the potential scrapping of a disability benefit for under-25s, as part of efforts to manage the rising benefits bill. Ministers are proceeding cautiously to avoid a repeat of past welfare-related political setbacks. The delay in releasing Milburn's full recommendations is attributed to coordinating their presentation with other major reviews and the government's budget.