Just one in five MPs believe the apprentice minimum wage is enough to live on, research from the Young Women’s Trust has found.
The findings, released during National Apprenticeship Week, revealed that only 45 per cent of MPs would encourage someone to undertake a job that paid the apprentice minimum wage of £3.50 an hour. This is despite concerns from the majority of MPs (83 per cent), that many young people are encouraged to go to university when an apprenticeship might be more suitable.
Although apprenticeships might be appropriate for some, the research found that those undertaking this type of training were among some of the hardest hit financially, with two in five spending more on the role than they earn. Around half were also struggling to cover basic living costs and transport to work.
The charity also raised concerns that some apprentices were being exploited by being given the same work and responsibilities as non-trainee workers.
‘Young people – and especially young women – are being shut out of apprenticeships by low pay,’ said Young Women’s Trust chief executive, Dr Carole Easton OBE. ‘If it is serious about supporting more people into apprenticeships, the government must significantly raise the apprentice minimum wage.’
A separate survey of more than 4,000 young people by the charity found that raising the apprentice minimum wage was supported by 83 per cent of respondents, and was a more popular idea than abolishing university tuition fees.
‘Creating a system that makes apprenticeships attractive and accessible to a wider range of people will bring huge benefits to employers and the economy as a whole. It’s time the government made apprenticeships work for young people,’ added Easton.
