Apprentices are now just as likely to come from affluent areas as poorer ones, following Government reforms five years ago.

Over the last five years, there has been a sharp drop in the number of entry-level apprenticeships, as reported by the Financial Times.

The Apprenticeship Levy means more larger companies are spending their funding on MBAs for existing employees, rather than investing in new, younger staff.

Apprenticeships, which were traditionally used by younger people and SMEs, are becoming dominated by larger business and older employees - the areas of the economy which need the least support, Business West told the FT.

The shift has seen a big fall in participation by younger and poorer people. In 2021, the apprenticeship participation figures were the same for those from the most deprived and least deprived areas, with the highest participation being among those in the second-least deprived areas.

The number of under-25s starting apprenticeships fell by more than 40 per cent between 2014/15 and 2020/21, with the biggest decline among those from the most deprived areas.

Analysis by the Centre for Vocational Education Research shows that young people who start their apprenticeships between the ages of 19 and 24 receive a larger salary increase after their apprenticeship than those who began their apprenticeship over the age of 25. This suggests apprenticeships have the biggest impact on productivity and skills when they are focused on younger people.

The new system has also led to some gaps in provision. An example would be the Level 3 apprenticeship in plumbing and domestic heating, which takes four years to complete.

Patrick Mcleod, assistant principal at SGS College told the FT that there is no longer a Level 2 apprenticeship in plumbing. In the past, the college would have started 45 apprentices on Level 2 plumbing and 15 on Level 3 every year. Now it starts just 15 to 20 on Level 3.