ECA joins calls for raising concerns over apprentices

​​​​​​​The concern relate to shortening the minimum duration of apprenticeships and mandating a new endpoint assessment

The Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA) has joined 22 other organisations in the construction industry in signing an open letter to prime minister Keir Starmer, raising concerns about the Government’s proposed Skills England apprenticeship reforms.

Having participated in a Department for Education test pilot, the British Woodworking Federation (BWF) has identified that the proposed changes could harm the development of skilled workers across the sector.

These concerns particularly relate to shortening the minimum duration of apprenticeships and mandating a new endpoint assessment, favouring a shorter, high-level assessment plan over the current impartial final stage of an apprenticeship.

As part of a coalition of 23 organisations and membership and professional bodies from across the construction and built environment sectors, including Unite the Union, the Joint Industry Board (JIB) and the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA), ECA urges the Government to reconsider the aspects of the proposed reforms.

While ECA welcomes the Government’s pledge to build 1.5 million homes over the next few years, it stresses that this will only be possible with a competent, qualified, and well-trained workforce.