Government should boost vocational education: Employers

More than a 1000 employees suggest the government to work more on vocational education in order to boost skills training.

Almost 60% of UK employers say the UK government does not do enough to support skills education, whereas 72% said, they feel vocational education is essential for preparing young people for professional field.

The results were revealed after 1000 employers were allowed to give their opinions by quality provider City and Guilds and Skills Charity Edge Foundation. All recruitment managers at a range of small medium and large business in a variety of sectors across UK took part in this session.

As a result, around 53% said they valued vocational education above all academic attainment.

While the employers said that the govt need to improve the vocational education, the government said its reforms to apprenticeships were putting 'employers in the driving seat'.

Highlights of the report:

• Around 78% agrees that young people who prefer practical learning need a better alternative route to A-levels.
• 83% employers said the young people needed better advice on the career options open to them.
• 84% of them agreed that youngsters need more robust work experience while they are still at school.
• The research found that half of businesses thought that the current education failed to meet their needs. While one third of them had considered recruiting skilled workers from abroad.

The government has embarked on a range of changes to vocational education and training in schools, colleges and work-places.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Business Innovation and Skills said: "Apprenticeships are a proven vocational route to a successful career. We have set out a clear and coherent set of reforms to apprenticeships. We will continue to increase quality, simplify the system and put employers in the driving seat."

"More than 60 employers from eight different sectors have already signed up to develop new standards as part of the first Apprenticeship Trailblazers. "We will work with more businesses and sectors over the coming months to develop concise employer-led standards for apprenticeships."

The spokeswoman added that the government's new traineeships would help 16- to 24-year-olds improve their English and maths and to gain work skills and experience.