“I saw an electrical engineering apprentice a couple of months back who was three years into a four-year programme.
“He was devastated that the only support he could get was for 12 weeks, and the likelihood of him getting another job when he wasn’t qualified was fairly negligible.”
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UK unemployment hit its highest in three years in the three months to August, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), at 4.5 per cent,
The ONS also estimates the number of those in work between 16 to 24 has decreased by 220,000, plummeting to a record low of 3.54 million.
Meanwhile, figures from the Welsh Government revealed that nearly 3,000 apprentices are still on the furloughn scheme in Wales alone, with hundreds already being made redundant.
Ashworth said while the new legislation was a “positive move”, ministers should provide additional support now the furlough scheme was being wound down.
He added: “It’s good that the new legislation has come in, but unfortunately it won’t provide that level of support for apprentices who are on longer programmes who have been made redundant before this.
“One thing the government could do is look at a targeted wage subsidy or an extension to the furlough scheme for young apprentices who are at risk of redundancy to stop them becoming displaced in the first place.”
Jill Whittaker, the managing director of HIT Training, another apprenticeship provider specialising in hospitality, told The Big issue the new legislation was “welcome” but the definition of “redundancy” needed to be extended.
Whittaker said: “The current definition of redundancy needs to be extended to include those ‘laid off’, ‘let go’, or who have otherwise lost their job through no fault of their own.
“At the moment, without a formal redundancy notice, we cannot continue to work with the apprentice.”
Toby Perkins, the shadow minister for apprenticeships, told The Big Issue he was “extremely disappointed” ministers had not made the new regulation retrospective.
He said: “I have been in communication with several apprentices who have been made redundant in recent months and I have been pressing the government to act urgently.
“While I welcome the new support measures, they have sadly come too late for many redundant apprentices who have been left in limbo, without a job or training opportunity.”
Gillian Keegan, apprenticeships and skills minister said in a statement: “This has been a challenging time for the entire country. We know that some apprentices have lost their jobs or are facing redundancy due to Covid-19.
“That’s why we have changed the law to allow more apprentices who have been made redundant to complete their programmes and get the skills and experience they need to get ahead.
“Alongside this, our redundancy support service for apprentices continues to provide free advice and guidance to apprentices affected by redundancy, as well as helping them to identify new apprenticeship opportunities available across the country.”
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