A.72 Apprenticeships quality - The Government will improve the quality of the apprenticeship programme by:
• requiring all apprenticeships providers to support training in English and maths up to A*-C GCSE standard, where not already achieved;
• launching a further opportunity in 2012 for organisations to bid for funding to extend Higher Apprenticeship provision; and
• conducting an employer-led review into the quality and standards of apprenticeships to report by spring 2012.
A.73 Apprenticeship administration - The Government will ensure that every employer is able to advertise a vacancy within one month of deciding to take on an apprentice, and have them ready to start work within three months, provided that employers play an active role. The Government will also remove all unnecessary health and safety requirements for apprenticeships.
A.74 Ofqual - The Government has welcomed a proposal from Ofqual, the independent regulator of qualifications, to work with the Office of Fair Trading and other bodies to review how well qualifications markets are operating.