Companies undergoing investment or buyout from Private Equity (PE) firms and Venture Capitalists (VC) face a high level of financial scrutiny. The spotlight is on them to drive efficiencies, reduce costs and improve operating margins. For independent training companies providing fixed-cost apprenticeship programmes, this means finding other ways to improve profitability.

Two million good-quality green jobs by 2030. Electricity to come from clean sources by 2035. Net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Sustainability commitments made by the UK are bold, as we all know they need to be, but what do these statistics, promises and pledges mean in practice for the skills and employability sector?

All learners have different needs. For the vocational training sector, this can mean differences in capability, homelife situation, workplace demands, learning preferences or, importantly, learning support needs. Without a base-level understanding of neurodiversity, curriculum teams, tutors and employers risk alienating a significant proportion of learners or would-be learners. In our industry, the engagement and progress of every learner matters. Embracing and supporting neurodiversity is a critical part of this.

Numbers of apprenticeship starts have dropped significantly since the start of the pandemic, most noticeably among young people under the age of 25, and for apprenticeships at levels 2 and 3. In this article we look at why this may be, the possible consequence of this drop, and the viable solutions that could help attract young people back to apprenticeships.

“The behaviours required to prosper in a new world are different.” Aptem CEO, Richard Alberg. Although we might not yet be living in what we can call a ‘post-pandemic’ world, the pandemic has already significantly changed the behaviours and skills we need to thrive. Behavioural science can help us to pinpoint and understand these changes, as well as offer useful insights that can be applied to service delivery, and ultimately support people into work.