Skills Olympics must leave legacy

The event has been strongly supported by manufacturers including ourselves and has been a catalyst to spark the ambitions of young people across the UK. However, we still need to address the challenge of translating this welcome attention into a long-term commitment to boost apprentice numbers. Progress is being made with DBIS reporting that an additional 103,000 people started apprenticeships in 2010/11 compared to the previous year, but there's more to be done. The perception of apprenticeships – still seen by many as secondary to academic education – remains a problem that to a large extent can be addressed through communication. Funding is often perceived as a barrier preventing firms, especially SMEs, from hiring apprentices, although it's important to remember that government funding is available for the cost of training apprentices. This covers all training costs for 16-18 year olds, half for 19-24 year olds and a contribution for over 25s. While employers bear some costs, including paying an appropriate wage, they may not be as high as many imagine and are potentially less than employing unskilled labour. The government's recently announced Work Programme, a back-to-work scheme targeting the long-term unemployed, is also worth examining from the funding perspective as employers receive between £4,000 and £13,700 for every individual they hire in a long-term role, which could of course have a high training content. Apprentices are the lifeblood and future of industry, from general engineering to high tech, such as in aviation and polymechanics, and manufacturers lead the way when it comes to championing the cause. For example, Snap-On's pioneering Excellence in Education programme helps young apprentices and educational providers with the best tools and equipment. The challenge now is the need to communicate to a wider audience the value of apprenticeships and the contribution they make towards wealth creation and achieving an economically competitive UK.