To ask the Minister for the Economy whether her Department has assessed the financial or administrative barriers preventing small and medium-sized employers from engaging in apprenticeship schemes.

My Department works closely with employers to develop the apprenticeship system through a wide range of sectoral partnerships and regional groups to support the design and promotion of apprenticeships.

Participation in the ApprenticeshipsNI and Higher-Level Apprenticeship programmes is at an all-time high, with ApprenticeshipsNI starts rising by 70% from 2019/20 to 2023/24. Higher Level Apprenticeship starts at FE colleges have increased by almost 200% from 2017/18 to 2023/24, while HLA starts at our universities have risen by over 130% from 2018/19 to 2022/23.

This suggests that many employers are turning to apprenticeships. However, a key benefit of apprenticeships is that employers are developing talent in line with their needs. Whilst the delivery model of centrally contracted providers seeks to minimise adminstative burdens, the development of talent through on- the-job learning brings a degree of financial and development focus within employers – which is more challanging for smaller employers.

The Apprenticeships Action Plan seeks to build on the success of the apprenticeship system to enable more employers to access and benefit from apprenticeships. It includes actions to help more employers recognise that investing in an apprentice is of longer term beneft to the business; a commitment to undertake a strategic review and research into the effectiveness and experience of apprenticeships, including any barriers experienced by employers; and the need to provide the specific support employers need with a commitment to pilot Apprenticeship Navigators to support SMEs employing their first apprentices.