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SMEs may Turn Back on Apprenticeships, Economic 'Shock and War' Disrupts Skills Provision
A survey of more than 250 firms found 25% employ no apprentices, while 84% said labour costs are their biggest pressure, Enginuity said.
- On Wednesday, April 01, 2026, SMEs warned they may slash apprenticeship programs to survive rising economic pressures, with Enginuity CEO Ann Watson stating conditions could prove "disastrous for the skills system."
- Rising labour costs impact 84% of firms, while energy and raw material expenses burden 61%; Managing Director Chris Houston of Tadweld noted wage increases made training "exceptionally expensive."
- SMEs comprise more than 99% of businesses, yet 25% of surveyed companies currently employ no apprentices; these organizations collectively generate £1.9 Billion to the economy, making apprenticeship losses a threat to skills provision.
- Government figures released last week show Under 19 apprenticeship starts have fallen to their lowest level in 5 years, as the OECD downgraded growth forecasts and suggested the UK faces significant economic fallout.
- Ongoing economic pressure from the Middle East energy crisis threatens to worsen conditions for sector businesses, and Their Policy Centre for Supply Chain and SMEs is urgently feeding findings to the Government to mitigate damage.
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newcastleworld.com+23 Reposted by 23 other sources
UK SMEs may turn their backs on apprenticeships, experts warn
The UK’s small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) are bracing themselves for further economic shocks in the pipeline and are already struggling to fund apprenticeships – which threatens the skills provision required to power growth.
SMEs may Turn Back on Apprenticeships, Economic 'Shock and War' Disrupts Skills Provision
LONDON, April 01, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The UK's small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) are bracing themselves for further economic shocks in the pipeline and are already struggling to fund apprenticeships – which threatens the skills provision required to power growth. Skills charity Enginuity, the former sector skills council dedicated to boosting skills provision in engineering and manufacturing, issued the warning as it released the res…
·New York, United States
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Total News Sources27
Leaning Left1Leaning Right1Center18Last UpdatedBias Distribution90% Center
Bias Distribution
- 90% of the sources are Center
90% Center
C 90%
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