CITB has responded to a new report on apprenticeships by saying that funding must meet employer demand.

The wide-ranging report, by the National Audit Ofice (NAO), looks at how to maximise benefits from the Government’s apprenticeships programme.

Among the NAO’s recommendations was that the Department for Education should set out the overall impact on productivity and growth, how  the programme’s success will be measured, and should develop more robust ways of managing risks.

Steve Radley, Director of Policy at CITB, said:

“While this report supports boosting apprenticeship numbers, it also shows they must be good quality and targeted at the skills employers need to increase productivity.

“High quality construction apprenticeships are vital to building the homes and infrastructure our economy needs.

“A target for apprenticeship starts helps to raise its profile but it must take into account employer demand to ensure funding is targeted where it can have the greatest impact.”