Universities urge gov to back accountancy apprenticeships, UVAC finds

A total of 88% of the UK’s top universities believe that higher and degree apprenticeships hold the key to the newly elected Labour government driving economic growth and addressing the talent needs across the finance sector.

A recent survey by the University Vocational Awards Council (UVAC) of its university members, explored what policy commitments and funding support the new government should make to ensure higher and degree apprenticeships meet the sector’s skills gap.  

Those surveyed believe that Labour should continue the progress made across higher and degree apprenticeships under the previous government, with 84% urging Labour to support their continued growth. 

From a financial perspective, 64% believe the new government should commit to helping universities meet the cost challenges of delivering higher and degree apprenticeships in partnership with accountancy employers and help them diversify their provision to meet the needs of more business sectors.

With attention now fixed on how accountancy firms will contribute to funding apprenticeships, the research explored the impact Labour’s Growth and Skills Levy will have when it replaces the Conservative’s Apprenticeship Levy, which is financed by a 0.5% compulsory contribution by employers with payroll costs of over £3m.

Despite being met with concerns especially from levy-paying organisations and regarded as another form of business taxation, 60% of universities felt the Apprenticeship Levy better supported the delivery of apprenticeships across all levels, ages and occupations when compared to Labour’s new funding solution. 

However, in a boost to accountancy firms paying the current levy, 28% felt that apprenticeship provision for 16-18 year olds should be paid for by general taxation in the same way as A levels, T levels and Applied Generals.

Over three quarters (77%) of respondents are concerned that Labour’s Growth and Skills Levy could allow accountancy firms to spend up to 50% of their payments on non-apprenticeship training which could hinder the volume of top talent entering the finance sector via apprenticeships.

Those in favour of the creation of the future Growth and Skills Levy believe it will drive improvements within the sector, with 45% believing it will offer a fairer apprenticeship deal to both large and small employers. Around a third (32%) feel it will provide more funding to higher and degree apprenticeships than the previous government and 36% believe it will increase social mobility in relation to apprenticeship delivery.

One of the big issues under the previous government was the approximate 20% of its annual apprenticeship budget being pledged to degree apprenticeships, with 77% of universities believing that was not enough under the Conservatives to meet the needs of the finance sector.

Dr. Mandy Crawford-Lee, chief executive for UVAC, said: “Given that there is still some uncertainty around Labour’s skills policy and how it will meet its manifesto pledges, we were keen to gauge the mood of universities delivering higher and degree apprenticeships in partnership with accountancy employers of all sizes.

“Our members clearly feel it’s vital that Labour continues to safeguard the future of apprenticeships and makes them available to people of all ages and across all qualification and skill levels, so that a change in government doesn’t stifle their growth. Any risk to the funding of higher and degree apprenticeships seems unthinkable when you consider how critical they are to promoting social inclusion, bolstering the wider UK economy and addressing the skills gap across the finance sector.”