To ask the Minister for the Economy to detail (i) the number of employers that have expressed a desire to take on new apprentices during the 2021/22 financial year; (ii) how this figure compares to the previous five years; and (iii) the steps her Department is taking to encourage more employers to engage with apprenticeships schemes.

(i) & (ii) My Department does not hold the information requested. An Employer Skills survey published by Westminster’s Department for Education in June 2020 states that 6% of employers in NI currently offer apprenticeships, while a further 6% of employers in NI have previously offered apprenticeships but have none currently. Of the Northern Ireland employers who responded to the survey, 29% stated that they intend to offer apprenticeships in the future, while 13% said they didn’t know if they would offer apprenticeships in future. Of those NI employers who currently offer apprenticeships, 90% intend to continue offering apprenticeships in the future. It is important to note however that this survey was conducted in 2019 and therefore predates the Covid19 pandemic. I am not aware of any similar surveys that have been conducted more recently. (iii) My Department’s Apprenticeship Recovery Package was launched on 11th September 2020. The package consists of three separate elements: New Apprenticeship Recruitment Incentive – This scheme offers up to £3,000 to employers for each new apprenticeship opportunity created and applies equally for new apprentices and those who have been made redundant by other employers; Return Retain Result (RRR) –Up to £3,700 per apprentice is available to employers who return apprentices from furlough and retain their employment through to the 31st March 2021 and on to successful completion of their apprenticeship; and The Apprenticeship Challenge Fund – A one off grant scheme to promote the development and testing of new and innovative models of apprenticeship recruitment and delivery The launch of these schemes has been supported by an advertising campaign across TV, radio, outdoor billboards and a variety of social media platforms. Officials have also been working with training providers to ensure that employers are made aware of the support available and to encourage them to utilise the support available to protect existing and create new apprenticeship opportunities It is important to note that unlike other skills and training interventions, apprenticeships are demand led and directly linked to jobs and skills needs within the economy. Despite this package of support it is clear that the need to support apprentices, employers and training providers remains. Last month I launched an Economic Recovery Action Plan which sets out a range of decisive actions to kick-start economic recovery under four pillars, one of which is ‘Supporting a Highly Skilled & Agile Workforce’. A number of planned actions include extension of the Apprenticeship Recruitment Initiative, making apprenticeships available to more people and sectors by amending agerelated eligibility criteria and the introduction of Public Sector Apprenticeships. In addition my Department is currently working with stakeholders across five Regional Working Groups to develop a programme of activity for Northern Ireland Apprenticeship Week 2021. This event will run from 26 to 30 April 2021 and provides an opportunity for the general public, including future apprentices and their influencers (parents, guardians, teachers etc), and employers to discover the benefits apprenticeships bring to businesses, individuals and our economy. Finally, through our Sectoral Partnerships we are reviewing and developing the content of apprenticeship frameworks to ensure that they meet the evolving needs of employers.