Apprentice number

• The number of apprenticeship starts and on-programme apprentices has fallen sharply and consistently over the past four years. In 2019 there were 15,686 apprentices on programme with CWM colleges which fell by 36% to 10,027 in 2022/23. Apprenticeship starts declined by 58% over the same period from 6,206 to 3,633.

Level

• Roughly 11% of apprentices on programme are learning at higher level and this is consistent over the years under review. Over the four-year period we have seen an increase in the proportion at advanced level from 50% to 60% and a corresponding drop in those at intermediate level from 40% to just over 30%.

Age

• There were 1,870 apprenticeship starts for under 19s in 2022/23, which represented 49% of all apprentices. These have been roughly evenly split between programmes at intermediate and advanced level, with a slight shift to advanced level over the four-year period in review. In 2022/23, exceptionally, 5% of Under 19s were on a higher-level apprenticeship.
• Apprenticeship starts for those aged 19-23 stood at 1,000 in 2022/23, 44% less than the number in 2019. Around 12% started on higher level apprenticeships last year. Apprenticeship starts for those aged 24+ fell by 54% over the four years to 2022/23 to 853, but a greater proportion learned at higher level (21%).

Technical routes

• The four most popular technical routes in 2022/23 were Construction (1,166 starts which represents little change over four years), Business and Administration (559 starts which was more than half the number in 2019), Engineering (676 starts which was 56% of 2019 numbers), Health and Science (438 starts, up slightly over four years).

Gender

• 34% of apprentices on programme are female on average but the gender split depends on the age of the apprentices. Females represent 29% of under 19s, 28% of 19-23s and 49% of 24+.

Ethnicity

• Participation in apprenticeships is skewed towards White people, particularly in younger apprentices. In 2022/23 84% of starters identified as White, broken down as 87% of under 19s, and 81% of over 19s.
• Looking at the WMCA region alone, 75% of apprenticeship starters are White, with the similar higher figure in the younger apprentices (80% of under 19s, 69% of 19-13s and 74% of 24+).

Deprivation

• The profile of apprentices shows proportionally higher participation in the areas of highest deprivation and lower representation in the areas of least deprivation. 10% of residents are in areas of highest deprivation versus 15% of apprentices. This profile is consistent across all ages.

LLD/D

• Around 14% of apprentices on programme have disclosed a learning difficulty, disability or health condition.