The debate will start at 10am on Thursday 27th June and will focus on four main questions following the Government’s consultation on how to implement the Richard Review’s recommendations on the future of apprenticeships.
Suzy Jackson, executive director of the Hospitality Guild, said that it was important to discuss the best way to implement apprenticeships, which play a vital role in the hospitality industry: “We know that there are strong apprenticeship frameworks in the hospitality industry and that they deliver the skills that employers need, but there’s always room for improvement.”
The debate itself will centre on four main questions that employers have highlighted as key to both the use and understanding of apprenticeships:
Who should be an apprentice?
How apprenticeships can deliver substantial new skills?
Should Level 2 Maths and English be included for all apprentices - what are the obstacles?
Should apprentices have to do a final test and should there be grades?
Jackson said that a number of the Guild’s partner organisations had already committed to taking part.
“We’ve had a number of requests to run more twitter debates, so we’re absolutely thrilled that organisations like the BII and People 1st, which have real expertise in apprenticeships and their delivery, will be taking part in the debate.”
Anyone wishing to take part in the twitter debate – either to ask questions or offer comments – simply needs to include the hashtag #QActNow to their post.
Further debates are planned for September and December 2013, and March 2014, with proposed topics including the introduction of the Government’s new traineeship scheme.