Apprentices struggling to find placements - as South Devon College launches 'employer challenge'

South Devon College says more than 200 young people are currently waiting to start an apprenticeship - but too few businesses are stepping forward to take them on.

The Torbay-based college says the region is facing 'a growing disconnect between the number of young people keen to work and the number of employers willing to hire them'.

It believes a combination of 'economic uncertainty, misinformation and rising business costs is contributing to the issue'.

Scarlett Esprit is a business apprentice with the college and says many of youngsters she helps find placements are 'very, very impressive'.

She said: "Especially going out to the local schools, seeing the drive and passion that many young people have to find an apprenticeship and really go straight into work after school is next to none.

"There’s been some amazing students that I've come across and it's just really unfortunate that at the moment there's that gap.

"I would definitely say compared with this time last year there's been a lot less vacancies, a lot of less employers looking for apprentices and there's been students coming up to 16 knowing that they want to do an apprenticeship - and they've really got a drive for it and a real passion for a certain area - but they're just struggling to find someone to support them with it."

Ben Pountney, the college's head of business solutions & apprenticeships, said applications to be an apprentice have risen as more students look to develop skills in the workplace, but believes economic uncertainty is one of the biggest reasons it's becoming harder for them to find placement.

He said; "The main reason that we're hearing at the moment is that workforces are generally lean, so when they take somebody on they may struggle to release them to come along to college on either a day release or a block release basis to do the training that we do here - I guess their presence in the workplace is really vital.

"We know they are under increased economic pressures; the cost of living is going up, the cost of materials is going up and obviously there have been some raises in National Insurance of late as well - all of these things have contributed to a bit of uncertainty.

He adds: "Everywhere you turn at the moment there's talk of AI and AI replacing some of these entry level skills and I think there's an awful lot of truth in that - but I think there's an opportunity to work alongside AI. There are loads and loads of specialist skills that we support through the apprenticeship route that AI just simply cannot replace.”

Mr Pountney says there is a National Insurance discount for apprentices under 25 to help offer a 'financial incentive for employers' and he is happy to talk through the benefits with bosses.

Laurence Frewin, Principal and CEO of South Devon College, said, “We have hundreds of young people who want to start work today.

"What we do not have are enough employers coming forward offering these young people an apprenticeship. Too many businesses are basing decisions on myths, particularly about the cost of hiring an apprentice, and it is holding young people back.”

Apprenticeships are a very popular alternative to traditional learning routes giving young people the opportunity to earn as they learn, gain invaluable skills and work experience.

South Devon College has seen a surge in interest for apprenticeships, with more than 200 applicants this year, but they warn if employers do not step forward, many of these young people will either leave the area or miss out on vital early career opportunities.

To try and stop young people moving away, and to help maintain a skilled future ready workforce, South Devon College has launched an ambitious campaign: 100 Apprenticeships in 100 Days with the aim to secure 100 apprenticeship commitments from employers across the region.

Local MP Steve Darling is also backing the college’s campaign by writing to 400 local businesses encouraging them to get involved.

There's more about the campaign and apprenticeships here