AQW 28640/17-22

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 25/01/2022
Answered On Date: 02/02/2022
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for the Economy (i) for his assessment of the supply and demand for those over 25 who want to begin an apprenticeship; (ii) to detail (a) the support; and (b) place numbers available for people over 25 who wish to retrain via an apprenticeship; and (iii) whether he will consider making unfilled places on apprenticeship courses for younger trainees automatically available for those aged over 25.

Answer:

Taking account of business needs and recruitment and selection policies, the demand for apprentices is determined by employers.

By association, demand for places on the Department’s Higher Level Apprenticeships (Level 4 and above) and ApprenticeshipsNI (Level 2 and 3) programmes is also determined by employers. The Department does not allocate a specific number of places on each programme.

In the case of Higher Level Apprenticeships, subject to other eligibility criteria being met, funding for training is available on an all-age basis

In relation to ApprenticeshipsNI, funding for apprentices aged 25 years and over is focused on identified economically important sectors, with the rate of funding set at 50% of that available in respect of those aged 16-24 years.

In individual cases where the age eligibility criterion has not been met, to ensure equity of treatment for all prospective apprentices, the eligibility rules of the programme must be applied consistently and so funding cannot be made available.

The Department has recently considered, at length, the removal of age-related eligibility criteria. In light of the implications of the draft budget for 2022-2025 however, it is unlikely that such a change can be implemented at this time.