Recruitment agencies have a role to play in helping government identify sectors most in need of an injection of apprenticeship talent, according to Caroline Nokes MP.

As National Apprenticeship Week kicked off yesterday, employers have committed to the creation of thousands of new apprenticeships across the UK, according to the government’s apprenticeship pledgeometer. 

But research, carried out last week by vocational education organisation City and Guilds, showed 90% of 150 employers they surveyed thought the government’s 3m apprenticeship target by 2020 is arbitrary, and 84% think the target should better take account of current UK skills shortages.

Asked by Recruiter at an event at the Houses of Parliament last night, whether government should set a more sophisticated target taking account of such shortages, Nokes said it [government] should continue to push for the creation of apprenticeships across all sectors, regardless of current shortages. But the Conservative MP also said she would like to see the continued expansion of apprenticeships across very small businesses, as well as larger firms.

Nokes added recruiters could help identify sectors in which shortages of apprentices exist.

She told Recruiter: “Recruitment agencies, I have to say, when it comes to local job markets probably know the business and the vacancies and the shortages better than anybody.”

Nokes was the first speaker at last night’s awards ceremony, organised by charity Central YMCA, recognising excellence among apprentices the charity had helped back into work.

Nadhim Zahawi, Conservative MP and adviser to government on apprenticeships, told the audience he anticipated the apprenticeship levy, announced by the Chancellor in his 2015 Budget speech, would accelerate the number of apprenticeships in the UK.

He predicted the levy would deliver £3bn of investment in apprenticeships by 2020.

But fellow speaker Angela Eagle, shadow secretary of state for business innovation & skills, said it was vital the opposition holds government to account on the quality of apprenticeships created.

“It’s important the opposition holds the government’s feet to the fire when it comes to issues of quality and making sure we get enough high quality apprenticeships, and there isn’t just a dash for quantity over quality,” she said.

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