Apprenticeships and T-levels are proving popular in Cumbria, according to the latest figures.


Figures from the Department for Education showed that over 9,000 people participated in apprenticeships in Cumberland and Westmorland and Furness in 2023/24, with around 3,600 starts.  
In September, around 1,000 new entrants began their apprenticeships at Lakes College, in Lillyhall, alongside about 200 who are studying for T-levels.  
Iain Glendinning, vice principal for curriculum and quality, says its apprenticeships cover areas as diverse as social care, education, hospitality, hair and beauty, engineering and construction, nuclear and business administration.

“Apprenticeships are booming really, specifically for 16 to 18-year-olds,” he said. “We’ve seen real growth over the last couple of years.” 
Unsurprisingly for a West Cumbrian college with Sellafield on its doorstep, it has seen the largest growth in engineering and construction apprenticeships.

A more challenging area is health, social care and early years education, where employers find it harder to release apprentices for training time.

“They find it hard to get enough people in as it is, so then to get people in and have to release them is a challenge,” said Iain. 
However, he hopes changes to the Apprenticeship Levy may mean employers are able to use it to fund other types of commercial training which could fit better with health and social and educational employers.

Launched in 2017, this is paid by employers with a wage bill of over £3m per year with the money put towards the provision of apprenticeships in England.

The government is in the process of reforming the scheme, including by creating Skills England, a centralised hub to try and align skills provision across the country.

It has also suggested replacing the current system with a Growth and Skills Levy which will allow the money raised to be spent on training other than apprenticeships. 
T-levels at Lakes College cover areas including engineering, construction, digital support services, leadership and a nurse cadet programme.

They are two-year courses, which are roughly equivalent to three A-levels and involve practical and classroom-based studies as well as an industry placement of around 45 days. 
“If you want to go and do a degree or degree apprenticeship, T-levels are a fantastic way to get that industry insight,” said Iain.