TUC calls for apprenticeship transport discount

Cheaper travel for apprentices was a government manifesto pledge in 2017
22nd August 2019, 12:03am

Share

TUC calls for apprenticeship transport discount

https://www.tes.com/magazine/archive/tuc-calls-apprenticeship-transport-discount
The Government Should Deliver On Its Pledge To Introduce Cheaper Travel For Apprentices, A New Tuc Report Has Said

The government should deliver on its promise to support apprentices with their travel cost, the TUC has urged.

Introducing significantly discounted bus and train travel for apprentices to ensure that no young person was deterred from an apprenticeship due to travel costs was a Conservative Party manifesto pledge over two years ago, but has not been implemented.


News: DfE shies away from apprentice travel and Ucas pledges

Background: MPs call for crackdown on low apprentice pay

More on this: Benefits system stops poor youngsters taking up apprenticeships​​​​​​​


Barriers to starting an apprenticeship

In December last year, the government said in a response to a committee report that it recognised that travel costs “can sometimes be a barrier to young people who want to start an apprenticeship” but made no commitments other than to say it will write to the committee in the coming weeks and continue working with the Department for Transport to find a solution.

But earlier this month, new children’s minister Kemi Badenoch said in response to a written question that the Department for and the Department for Transport were “currently preparing a joint proposal for discounted public transport, including bus and train travel, for apprentices”.

According to a new TUC report published today - as students receive their GCSE results -apprentices receive less financial help with travel than those who remain at school. The report calls on the government to implement a national travel discount for all apprentices and sets out ideas for how it should work, citing the example of England metro mayoralties that have already delivered travel passes for apprentices.

In the Liverpool City Region, for example, the travel discount scheme saves apprentices up to £420 a year on bus fares and up to £680 on train fares. In Manchester and London young apprentices are eligible for free bus travel.

The TUC report also calls for the minimum wage for apprentices to be boosted to youth minimum wage rates. Apprentices can currently earn as little as £3.90 an hour if they’re aged under 19 or in the first year of their apprenticeship.

TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said: “Apprenticeships should be affordable for all. But many apprentices face the double whammy of low pay and high travel costs.

“There’s no good reason why apprentices should be left worse off than other students. The government must deliver on its promise to help every apprentice with their travel costs. It would help more apprentices complete their studies. And it would ensure Britain has the skills we need for the future.”

 

 

Want to keep reading for free?

Register with Tes and you can read two free articles every month plus you'll have access to our range of award-winning newsletters.

Keep reading for just £1 per month

You've reached your limit of free articles this month. Subscribe for £1 per month for three months and get:

  • Unlimited access to all Tes magazine content
  • Exclusive subscriber-only stories
  • Award-winning email newsletters
Recent
Most read
Most shared