Ms Nichola Harkin:

It is important to look at apprenticeships as an alternative to full-time education. We have heard a lot today about the fact that time and cost are a real barrier to employers taking on apprentices. We need to be cautious about anything that would increase the cost of apprenticeships. There is a need for more apprenticeships so we do need to be very careful around increasing the costs of apprenticeships, making them less viable, particularly for smaller enterprises. It is also important to recognise that taking on apprentices will involve a huge time commitment and a huge cost commitment both in the training and learning component but also in the mentoring and backfilling. There is a big investment from both the individual and the employer in apprenticeships. We have to look at the payment model in the context of apprenticeships as an alternative to full-time college education and the need that apprenticeships be adequately funded and adequately available across the board for employers of all different sizes.