The government has offered no clarity on its plans for apprenticeship funding reform in December's Autumn Statement, according to the Federation of Master Builders (FMB). Brian Berry, CE of the FMB said: "Apprenticeship funding still hangs in the balance with no clarity offered by the chancellor. We had hoped government would publish its response to the May 2014 consultation on funding reforms for apprenticeships but as things stand, we are no closer to understanding if ministers haave taken heed of our advice and decided to review their ill-conceived proposals." Brian said that the proposed funding reforms will "greatly detract from the ability and desire of small firms to train apprentices," and that the sectors needs an alternative way forward for SME apprenticeship funding. The FMB specifically picked up on a report published by Manpower that said a shortage of skilled bricklayers was pushing up the hourly rate of immigrant labourers. "If skills shortages continue to increase at hte same rate, itcould undermine the surge in private house building," Brian said. Sue Husband, Director of the National Apprenticeship Service commented on the importance of traineeships in light of the news that UK manufacturing activity picked up in November. "Traineeships are an integral part of the government's long-term economic plan to tackle youth unemployment, with more than 10,000 young people participating last year," she said. "They have gained widespread support from employers of all sizes. The TUC and CBI came together in August 2014 to mark the first anniversary of traineeships by announcing their joint support for the programme."
