Government urged to ringfence higher and degree apprenticeship funding to halt the manufacturing skills decline

The University Vocational Awards Council (UVAC) is urging the government to ringfence its planned Growth and Skills Levy funding of higher and degree apprenticeships, to tackle the rising skills gap impacting manufacturing employers.  Latest figures reveal that businesses are more dependent than ever on funded apprenticeship programmes between levels 4-7, which have experienced a 9% increase in…