Apprenticeship Awareness: ADSA Survey Addressing Industry Skills Gaps Nearly 69% of non-apprenticeship levy-paying organisations were unaware that they only need to contribute 5% towards an apprentice’s study fees, a recent survey by the Automatic Door Suppliers Association (ADSA) has revealed. And this lack of knowledge could be limiting the number of skilled professionals entering the powered pedestrian door sector. ADSA carried out the survey as part of a review into the Apprenticeship for Powered Pedestrian Door Technicians, which it created and launched in 2020. This review aligns with recommendations from the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (iFATE), which advises that all apprenticeships undergo a formal review in their fourth year to assess their effectiveness. The goal was to identify barriers to enrolment and participation, ensuring that both employers and apprentices can maximise the programme’s benefits. iFATE announced during National Apprenticeship Week in February that the Government has listened to employers’ needs for apprenticeships to be more flexible. This will see the introduction of shorter apprenticeships from August 2025 (subject to the parliamentary timetable), with the minimum length reduced from 12 to 8 months. The new development will allow training to be delivered and completed faster where that makes sense for a given industry, or an individual has significant prior learning. To date, South Staffordshire College has delivered to more than 70 apprentices within seven cohorts at its Tamworth campus. The college was specifically chosen for its state-of-the-art workshop facilities, Midlands-based location - making it equally accessible from both northern and southern parts of the UK - and its strong reputation for vocational training. The two-year programme combines on-the-job experience with 80 days undertaken at the college for classroom and workshop tuition. ADSA’s Survey: Scope and Participation An electronic survey was distributed to 1,800 potential respondents across the industry over a six-week period. The survey sought to evaluate the programme’s effectiveness and capture views on how well it addresses industry skill shortages. One of its key features was the inclusion of free-text responses, allowing participants to share detailed opinions beyond multiple-choice answers. The richness of this qualitative data has provided ADSA with invaluable insights which will now inform selected interviews with industry leaders. These will further refine the findings and development proposals before they are presented to ADSA’s executive team. Key Findings: Barriers and Challenges The survey results highlighted several major barriers preventing greater enrolment in the apprenticeship scheme: • Limited awareness: 31.8% of respondents were unfamiliar with the programme, despite its industry-wide relevance • Travel and location concerns: 28.8% cited accessibility and distance from the training provider as an obstacle • Time away from the business: 19.7% of respondents expressed concerns about apprentices being absent from work for training sessions Also online at: www.dijonline.co.uk 12 THE door industry journal spring 2025 Industry News
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