The introduction of the Apprenticeship Levy is likely to boost social mobility by enabling employers to recruit emerging talent from a wider range of backgrounds, according to the latest research from talent acquisition and management consultancy Alexander Mann Solutions.

The report, ‘The Apprenticeship Levy “How to turn a major social change (or an unwanted tax) into a robust talent strategy,’ which is based on in-depth interviews with organisations including Barclays, BT, CapGemini and more, finds that the introduction of the Levy is allowing employers to pipeline talent from previously marginalised groups in what one contributor has labelled as, 'the most fundamental change in our education system in years.'

Alexander Mann Solutions research also showed that 71% of employers foresee that the Levy will ultimately create a new route into the workplace to supplement or rival graduate intake.

"The introduction of the Apprenticeship Levy has encouraged employers to review existing talent strategies and consider different audiences and wider talent pools,” Tim Campbell, Head of Client Services, Emerging Talent, Alexander Mann Solutions, said. “Degree level apprenticeships allow individuals to train for four years with a good salary, making this level of qualification accessible to a larger proportion of people."

"One major consequence of the Levy is likely to be a re-definition of the term 'apprentice’, Campbell said. “A new breed of apprentice could soon overtake those who have the means to spend three years on a university campus after school. Particularly when you consider that, at the point of graduation, employees who come down the apprenticeship route are often more 'work ready' and 'business savvy' than their conventional university-trained counterparts."