{"id":309,"date":"2025-02-20T13:04:38","date_gmt":"2025-02-20T14:04:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/portraitsbylorie.com\/?p=309"},"modified":"2025-02-26T16:44:57","modified_gmt":"2025-02-26T16:44:57","slug":"apprentices-could-be-the-backbone-of-britain-but-only-if-we-take-action","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/portraitsbylorie.com\/index.php\/2025\/02\/20\/apprentices-could-be-the-backbone-of-britain-but-only-if-we-take-action\/","title":{"rendered":"Apprentices Could Be The Backbone Of Britain \u2013 But Only If We Take Action"},"content":{"rendered":"
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For decades, UK governments have promised major housebuilding initiatives, setting targets of 300,000 homes per year or, most recently, 1.5 million over five years. Yet time and again, these targets have been missed. While political debates focus on planning laws and infrastructure, one of the biggest issues remains unaddressed: a chronic skills shortage in the trades and essential public services needed to sustain a thriving economy.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Apprenticeships could be the key to solving this crisis, providing a win-win-win scenario for individuals, businesses, and the country. Yet a failure to promote them effectively has led to massive shortfalls in construction, nursing, policing, and teaching, forcing the UK to rely heavily on overseas recruitment instead of developing homegrown talent.<\/p>\n

AI Can\u2019t Build, Heal, or Protect<\/h2>\n

As artificial intelligence reshapes the job market, it\u2019s clear that while AI can analyse data and automate tasks, it can\u2019t install wiring, fit plumbing, build homes, care for patients, or enforce the law. Skilled trades, nursing, policing, and teaching rely on hands-on expertise, yet these professions face a severe lack of recruits.<\/p>\n

For decades, apprenticeships have been undervalued, with young people steered toward university instead. 42% of graduates don\u2019t secure jobs in their studied fields, while many apprentices not only gain employment but out-earn their graduate peers. Apprentices learn while they earn, finishing training with no student debt, real-world experience, and a clear career trajectory or even the skills to start their own business.<\/p>\n

The Workforce and Skills Crisis<\/h2>\n

The UK government has long set a target of building 300,000 homes annually, yet this hasn\u2019t been achieved since 1969-70, when 306,860 homes were built. Over the last 20 years, the UK has averaged fewer than 190,000 new homes per year, with the highest recent figure being 243,000 in 2019-20. This persistent shortfall highlights not just policy failures but also the lack of skilled workers needed to deliver these homes.<\/p>\n

Beyond construction, nursing shortages are critical, police recruitment struggles to meet demand, and teacher retention is an ongoing crisis. Instead of investing in apprenticeships, the UK has become dependent on attracting overseas workers while facing rising unemployment and disengagement at home.<\/p>\n

The failure to support apprenticeships has created two problems at once: a shortage of skilled workers and a growing perception of a \u201cwork-shy\u201d population. This isn\u2019t about politics\u2014it\u2019s about economic sustainability. We have the people\u2014we\u2019re just not giving them the right opportunities.<\/p>\n

What Needs to Change?<\/h2>\n

To make apprenticeships a desirable option in construction, nursing, policing, and teaching, three key changes are needed:<\/p>\n

1. Government Action:<\/strong><\/p>\n