Chief executive of JTL Jon Graham says he’s disappointed that the headline messaging that has been seized upon and ignores the very positive results and outcomes that many specialist providers are delivering for the UK economy.
In response to the newly published report, Graham comments: ‘We welcome OFSTED’s investigation into apprenticeship issues and their concerns around quality and accept that their comments have resonance in the wider apprenticeship field, where many short-term apprenticeships have been developed in areas that do not support fundamental business requirements – such as addressing the national skills shortage. ’However, we’d have liked to have seen more media coverage of the benefits of apprenticeships to the economy too – for instance a recent report estimated a Higher Apprenticeship can increase an individual’s lifetime earning potential by up to £150,000, comparable to the return for a university graduate.’ Graham continues: ‘If you delve more deeply into the OFSTED report it does acknowledge that there are training providers doing a good job, so it is very disappointing that the headlines we’ve seen today following publication have treated all apprenticeships in the same way.’
