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Diversity

Quality and equality are two aspects of the apprenticeship experience that go hand-in-hand and should be given the highest priority.

Union learning reps and other reps in the workplace have role to play in championing equality. See more in ULRs: champions of equality.

Women apprentices

Roughly half of apprenticeship starts are women. However, women are under-represented in sectors such as construction and engineering that tend to have better pay and prospects than those that are predominantly female such as hairdressing and early years care.

Research also shows that male apprentices in 2017 earned an average £7.25 per hour, while female apprentices earned £6.67. This apprenticeship gender pay gap largely reflects differences in the sectors that men and women undertake apprenticeships in, and the huge variations in pay levels between them.

Gender inequality is further compounded by the fact that young women are less likely to obtain a permanent position when they finish their apprenticeship.

For instance, the demand for labour in the science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) sector means that apprentices, who are mostly male in the sector, find it easier to secure permanent jobs. See more in unionlearn’s Tackling apprenticeship gender inequality booklet and gender pay gap by career data.

Young Black and minority ethnic apprentices

In wider population Black and minority ethnic (BME) workers face lower employment rates; and unemployment rates are twice as high for BME workers than white workers. There are significant pay gaps for BME workers at all levels of qualifications, and BME workers are more likely to be in insecure employment than white workers.

Recent data from Department for Education (DfE) shows that 32 per cent of white apprenticeships were under 19 and 21 per cent of BME apprenticeships were under 19. Research has found that although a proportionately higher proportion of apprenticeship applicants are BME, white applicants are more than twice as likely to secure an apprenticeship position. However, even when BME apprentices do complete their programmes, the BME apprentices suffered far higher rates of unemployment.

Additionally, a lower proportion of BME apprentices than white apprentices complete their apprenticeships. There is also significant under-representation of BME apprentices in some of the industrial sectors with higher earnings potential, such as engineering and science. See more in unionlearn’s Supporting Black and minority ethnic apprentices booklet and Under-representation by gender and race in Apprenticeships research paper.

Young apprentices with disabilities

The government statistics highlight that widening access is still a major challenge.

For example, between the years 2005/06 and 2015/16, the proportion of apprentices classified as disabled fell from 11 per cent to 9.9 per cent. The number of disabled people starting an Apprenticeship has actually increased in this period (up from 19,230 to 50,640) but this increase has not mirrored the much more rapid growth in apprenticeships among other groups.

The TUC advocates for the social model of disability, where disabled people themselves can determine the adjustments they need in order to work and lead independent and autonomous lives.

The social model sees the person first and identifies the barriers that can make it impossible or very difficult for disabled people to access jobs, buildings or services. Removing the barriers is the best way to include millions of disabled people in our society. See more in unionlearn’s Accessible Apprenticeships booklet.

How can reps make a difference?

Unions have a crucial role to play in redressing this balance and ensuring that women, disabled people, BME and other disadvantaged groups are not discouraged from taking up apprenticeship opportunities.

Some points to suggest to your employer might be:

  • Consider what reasonable adjustments and support services they could offer in order to make their apprenticeship programmes accessible to disabled people.
  • Encourage applications for apprenticeships from under-represented groups – consider how recruitment strategies could help reach a wider audience.
  • Review recruitment and selection criteria to ensure they don’t exclude or discourage under-represented groups.
  • Consider giving all atypical applicants who meet the minimum selection criteria an interview and consider using positive action to address under-representation.
  • Carry out equality and diversity training for managers and others involved in recruitment.
  • Introduce flexible working for all in the workplace including options of part-time apprenticeships.
  • Offer work experience to local schools, including same-sex open days.
  • Ask current apprentices and employees from under-represented groups to act as role models or champions.
  • Target particular groups by holding recruitment days at community events.
  • Look for training providers who are actively involved in training atypical apprentices, and incorporate their views in the design, development, review and delivery of apprenticeships.
  • Target information at parents of young people from disadvantaged groups to help address their under-representation.
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