The BFPA supports Holt Review findings on apprenticeships
The British Fluid Power Association (BFPA) has welcomed today's publication of the Holt Review on apprenticeships. BFPA director, Ian Morris, commented: “The British Fluid Power Association applauds the Government for commissioning entrepreneur Jason Holt to undertake this very welcome Review of the current state of play regarding SMEs and apprenticeships. Improving the UK’s apprenticeship regime – and indeed the education & training infrastructure in general – has to become a greater Government priority in order to secure the high level of workforce competence needed to secure the best possible future for SMEs in the UK. The BFPA fully supports the Review’s findings that raising general awareness concerning the benefits of apprenticeships is key. We also concur with the Review in recommending that the Government create an environment where SMEs can better develop their own training provision or work with providers and others to design apprenticeships that address skills shortages quickly and effectively, without reducing quality. Further, the BFPA supports the Review’s recommendation that there should be a clearer and more coherent landscape in terms of the roles and responsibilities of individual Government departments and related agencies regarding apprenticeships.
Morris continued: “As well as being enthusiastic advocates of apprenticeship schemes within the manufacturing and engineering sectors, we at the BFPA also passionately believe that adequate and widely assessable training provision in general is critical in order for a company’s workforce to be efficient, safe and legally compliant. For our part, we have established a number of training programmes aimed at raising the awareness levels of people who work with hydraulic systems/machinery; from the system designer and field engineer, to the machine operator and the person who makes the hose.”
Morris concluded: “Many SMEs currently find apprenticeship guidance too complex and are often not fully informed as to the enormous potential benefits to be had by taking on apprentices. Jason Holt is right in saying that while apprenticeships offer undoubted growth opportunities for businesses, not enough SMEs are taking advantage. The recently expanded Apprenticeships Grant for Employers is welcome news; however, I hope and trust that the findings of the Holt Review will spur Government on to much greater things with regard to further improving the training and apprenticeship landscape in the UK.”
ENDS
About the British Fluid Power Association
The British Fluid Power Association (BFPA) represents hydraulic and pneumatic businesses commercially and technically throughout the UK. With some 220 distributors and manufacturers in membership the BFPA is a truly full-service trade association. In whatever section of the fluid power industry your interest lies – be it technical i.e. electrohydraulics, pneumatic controls, motion control, linear motion, accumulators, pumps and motors, valves, pneumatic and hydraulic cylinders, seals, hose & fittings, safety & training, or commercial such as overseas exhibitions, statistics, political lobbying or European directives and guidelines – the BFPA has something to offer.
Events
-
SOUTHERN MANUFACTURING & ELECTRONICS SHOW 2025
04 February, 2025, 9:30 - 06 February, 2025, 15:30
Farnborough International Exhibition Centre, off Aerospace Boulevard, Farnborough GU14 6TQ -
SMART Manufacturing & Engineering Week
04 - 05 June, 2025
NEC, Birmingham UK -
PPMA 2025
23 September, 2025, 9:30 - 25 September, 2025, 16:00
NEC, Birmingham UK -
Advanced Engineering Show 2025
29 October, 2025, 9:00 - 30 October, 2025, 16:00
NEC, Birmingham UK
