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Firms in Guernsey's construction industry are worried about what will happen to the States's apprentice scheme if plans to slash the current grant in half are acted on.
The Guernsey Building Trades Employers Association said it was aware of some of the changes being proposed but not the planned changes to the way the apprentice scheme is funded - which it said will impact on the employers as well as the employees doing the training.
A meeting was due to be held today, between the GBTEA and the College of Further Education, to discuss the concerns which have been raised by construction industry professionals since the first meeting on the subject last week.
Louise Misselke, Principal of the College of FE, said, "as a result of the extensive consultation process with employers, we believe that the Guernsey Apprenticeship will continue to equip and support local industries with a skilled and professional workforce.
"We are committed to working in partnership with employers to monitor and review the new apprenticeship scheme. If you would like to be involved in these developments, please get in touch with the apprenticeship team.”
The reduction to the grant currently available to firms taking on apprentices came in the key findings of the review:
It's suggested the grant be simplified to a standardised amount of £1,500 per year for the first two years of an apprenticeship. A simpler grant application system, which would be available to all, will be introduced next year.
All employers who already have an apprentice (including those that enrolled in September 2018) will stay on the old grant aid model until they've qualified.
Pictured: Louise Misselke, principal of the College of FE.
The plans for the apprentice scheme were presented to the construction industry at a meeting last Monday, 8 October. Since then, the GBTEA spokesman said their committee had met and felt compelled to issue the following statement:
"The GBTEA has been involved in the States Apprenticeship Scheme for decades and the construction trades courses have been integral to equipping the local construction industry with the skilled tradesmen that it requires, as well as providing young islanders with a structured career route into the construction industry.
"The GBTEA recognises that the apprenticeship scheme has to evolve and has supported a number of the initiatives in the proposals made, including
"However, the GBTEA had not been made aware of the more than halving in the level of grant that was proposed for apprentices undertaking 4-year vocational courses commencing in 2019."
The GBTEA said taking on an apprentice is "a significant commitment, both in funding and staff time, especially for smaller employers" and that it is "very concerned at the effect this funding reduction will have on the take up of apprentices by construction employers and would urge the States to retain the current grant system until substantive and meaningful consultation with the construction industry on this matter has been completed."
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