Review Finds Apprenticeship Funding System Is Unfair

Apprenticeships in Jersey are being held back by an unfair funding system and need to be made easier to access, according to a review commissioned by the island’s government.

The review found employers and training providers were concerned that traditional academic routes such as A-levels receive full public funding, while some apprenticeship courses are only partially covered, creating an uneven playing field.

The Education Department said it would also reconsider whether financial support for degree-level apprenticeships should continue to be means-tested.

Education and Lifelong Learning Minister Deputy Rob Ward said apprenticeships played a crucial role in Jersey’s future workforce and suggested they should be treated as a statutory right. He said this was especially important for a small island that needed to “train its own” workforce.

The review highlighted strong backing for more targeted funding to help employers recruit less experienced apprentices and invest in their training. It added that apprenticeships deliver clear short- and long-term economic benefits, strengthening the argument for more flexible and generous financial support.