[UK] Overwhelming support for ending ‘unliveable’ apprenticeship pay

New polling has revealed that over three-quarters of the UK public (78 per cent) don’t think they could manage to survive on the Apprenticeship Minimum Wage, FE News reports.

The results were released by Opinium for the London Progression Collaboration, ahead of National Apprenticeship Week.

More than six in 10 people surveyed (61 per cent) thought the Apprenticeship Minimum Wage – which currently stands at £4.81 per hour and will rise to £5.28 per hour in April – is too low. While two-thirds (66 per cent) believe the Apprenticeship Minimum Wage should be replaced by the National Minimum Wage.

Legislative change would most benefit young people at the beginning of their careers, however, over-65s were reportedly the strongest supporters of scrapping the Apprenticeship Minimum Wage, with 71 per cent in favour.

The London Progression Collaboration has helped to create over 1,200 apprenticeships for low-paid Londoners in the past three years. It says that scrapping the Apprenticeship Minimum Wage would be a simpler, fairer approach, which is good for apprentices and their employers.

The Apprenticeship Minimum Wage has reportedly put apprenticeships under significant pressure that has only been exacerbated by the cost-of-living crisis, forcing people to quit their apprenticeships and lose out on much-needed qualifications in addition to undermining business retention and productivity.

Scrapping the Apprenticeship Minimum Wage and allowing apprentices to receive the National Minimum Wage would support hundreds of thousands of struggling households, entitling 18-20-year-olds to £7.49 an hour (a 42 per cent increase) or over-23s to at least £10.42 per hour (an increase of 97 per cent).

In addition, such a move would reportedly make it simpler for employers to ensure they remain compliant with National Minimum Wage legislation. In 2020, the Low Pay Commission reported high levels of non-compliance, with 8,800 apprenticeships paid less than the Apprenticeship Minimum Wage in 2019, rising from 8,300 in 2018. 

Anna Ambrose - Director of the London Progression Collaboration - said, “Apprentices are entitled to a fair wage and the Government needs to protect them by scrapping the Apprenticeship Minimum Wage.

“Employers that pay Apprenticeship Minimum Wage not only place real pressure on apprentices, forcing them to quit their apprenticeships and lose out on much-needed qualifications, but they also undermine business retention and productivity.

“There are skills shortages across the country in social care, construction and hospitality. If the Government is serious about protecting the vulnerable, building new homes and saving the high street, upskilling our national workforce is essential.”

Source: FE News

(Quotes via original reporting)

New polling has revealed that over three-quarters of the UK public (78 per cent) don’t think they could manage to survive on the Apprenticeship Minimum Wage, FE News reports.

The results were released by Opinium for the London Progression Collaboration, ahead of National Apprenticeship Week.

More than six in 10 people surveyed (61 per cent) thought the Apprenticeship Minimum Wage – which currently stands at £4.81 per hour and will rise to £5.28 per hour in April – is too low. While two-thirds (66 per cent) believe the Apprenticeship Minimum Wage should be replaced by the National Minimum Wage.

Legislative change would most benefit young people at the beginning of their careers, however, over-65s were reportedly the strongest supporters of scrapping the Apprenticeship Minimum Wage, with 71 per cent in favour.

The London Progression Collaboration has helped to create over 1,200 apprenticeships for low-paid Londoners in the past three years. It says that scrapping the Apprenticeship Minimum Wage would be a simpler, fairer approach, which is good for apprentices and their employers.

The Apprenticeship Minimum Wage has reportedly put apprenticeships under significant pressure that has only been exacerbated by the cost-of-living crisis, forcing people to quit their apprenticeships and lose out on much-needed qualifications in addition to undermining business retention and productivity.

Scrapping the Apprenticeship Minimum Wage and allowing apprentices to receive the National Minimum Wage would support hundreds of thousands of struggling households, entitling 18-20-year-olds to £7.49 an hour (a 42 per cent increase) or over-23s to at least £10.42 per hour (an increase of 97 per cent).

In addition, such a move would reportedly make it simpler for employers to ensure they remain compliant with National Minimum Wage legislation. In 2020, the Low Pay Commission reported high levels of non-compliance, with 8,800 apprenticeships paid less than the Apprenticeship Minimum Wage in 2019, rising from 8,300 in 2018. 

Anna Ambrose - Director of the London Progression Collaboration - said, “Apprentices are entitled to a fair wage and the Government needs to protect them by scrapping the Apprenticeship Minimum Wage.

“Employers that pay Apprenticeship Minimum Wage not only place real pressure on apprentices, forcing them to quit their apprenticeships and lose out on much-needed qualifications, but they also undermine business retention and productivity.

“There are skills shortages across the country in social care, construction and hospitality. If the Government is serious about protecting the vulnerable, building new homes and saving the high street, upskilling our national workforce is essential.”

Source: FE News

(Quotes via original reporting)