Motion by Councillor Emma Turnbull
“This Council notes that:
• Many young people from disadvantaged backgrounds undertake apprenticeships. They are more likely to be in apprenticeships at lower levels, be paid lower salaries, and work at smaller companies.
• Due to the economic impact of Covid-19, employers are unlikely to be recruiting apprentices in the numbers we have seen recently, meaning there will be fewer apprenticeship vacancies available for young people to access and more competition for the fewer opportunities.
• New apprenticeships in Oxfordshire are already down by 30-60% on last year, depending on the sector, and are likely to drop significantly further.
• A rising number of Oxfordshire’s young people are not in education, employment or training.
• With young people unable to access face-to-face career guidance, networking events or work experience opportunities it will be harder for disadvantaged young people to access high quality information and skills needed to secure an apprenticeship or job.
This Council resolves to:
• Ensure all careers advice for young people produced by this Council is fully accessible online, and has a particular focus on those from disadvantaged backgrounds, and ask OxLEP and other partners to do the same.
• Create a post-16 study and training fund to attract financial support for young people from lower socio-economic backgrounds, and invite contributions from county councillors priority fund and partner organisations.
• Ask the Leader and Chief Executive to write to central government recommending that social mobility and widening opportunity should be an explicit criterion in a review of the Apprenticeship Levy.”
Decision:
The time being 3.43 pm, this Motion was considered dropped in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 15.1.
Minutes:
The time being 3.43 pm, this Motion was considered dropped in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 15.1.