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A construction industry body has called on politicians to support a proposal to increase public investment in apprenticeship schemes – describing the disparity between academic and vocational funding as "extremely concerning".
The Jersey Construction Council has urged States Members to support a proposal put forward by the Children, Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel.
The proposal, which calls for additional funding and a comprehensive review of existing apprenticeship schemes, is set to be debated this week.
Pictured: Deputy Catherine Curtis chairs the Children, Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny panel. (Rob Currie)
It comes as new data has revealed a sharp decrease in apprenticeship enrolment.
The electrical apprenticeship programme at Highlands College, for example, has seen a 55% reduction in intake – dropping from three groups of 14 apprentices with a waiting list in 2023 to two groups of 12 apprentices with no waiting list in 2024.
The council warned that a failure to prioritise vocational education is contributing to a shortfall in skilled workers and hindering efforts to address the island's infrastructure needs.
In a statement, the leading industry body said: “The disparity between vocational and academic education is extremely concerning and this is leading to a shortfall in those students wanting to further their education on-island.
“Construction industry students, including apprentices, trainees and graduates are critical for developing those on-island skills to maintain our critical infrastructure and the built environment.
“Every pound spent in construction returns around three pounds of locally delivered value, so this investment would be local money well spent.
“Those completing apprenticeships live, learn and develop on the island, delivering benefits across all sectors, unlike some academic degree courses.”
Pictured: Students at Hautlieu School receive £7,000-£8,000 annually from the Government, while those in vocational apprenticeships at Highlands College receive only £1,600 per year.
In the statement, the council’s Vice Chair Colin Russell also spoke about the challenges in introducing essential training for new industries like renewable energy, where bureaucracy and funding gaps have delayed progress.
He said: “Renewable Energy courses at Highlands College were part funded by a grant obtained from the Business Licensing fees.
"The JeCC had to step in to facilitate this funding on behalf of Highlands College because the College could not access these Government funds directly.”
Mr Russell added: “We need to work together and cut through the red tape.”
The Vice Chair also called for a collaborative, cross-departmental approach to lifelong learning, warning that wage pressures could further reduce opportunities for vocational students.
He said: “Compounding this issue is the impact of the introduction of the minimum wage in 2024 and the planned increase to the living wage in 2025.
“This is having a detrimental effect on all students undertaking vocational courses on and off island, we fear the number being employed will be reduced year on year.
“We need a joined-up approach to lifelong learning, and would call on all the Ministers involved; education, environment, infrastructure and economy to get together and address this important issue.”
Pictured: The Government is being urged to increase funding for apprenticeship schemes amid concerns that those in vocational training receive significantly less financial support than those in academic education.
These comments come after Government figures released in June showed that students at Hautlieu School receive between £7,000-£8,000 in annual support, while those in vocational apprenticeships at Highlands College receive approximately £1,600 per year.
While the Government has allocated £500,000 of additional funding for apprenticeships in 2025, the Scrutiny Panel argued this will only cover increased costs of existing programs rather than expanding or improving them.
The panel’s proposed amendment to the Government’s nearly £1.3 billion spending plans for 2025 to 2028 forms part of a series of changes that Members have been putting forward in recent weeks.
Politicians are due to start debating the Budget, and its nearly 30 amendments, tomorrow.
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