By Safaraz Ali, founder of the Asian Apprenticeship Awards, an event celebrating the growing involvement of British Asians in apprenticeships and workplace training. Includes statistics of government targets and targets for BAME (black and ethnic minority) representation, as apprentices.

1. The Asian Apprenticeships Awards
Safaraz Ali
March 2017

2. Population Breakdown England 2011
Asian or Asian British Black or Black British
British Mixed and Other White
White (85.5%) 45,281,142
Asian or Asian British (7.8%) 4,143,403
Black or Black British (3.5%) 1,846,614
British Mixed and
Other / Unknown (3.2%) 1,741,297
Total Population 53,012,456
British Indian (34%) 1,395,702
British Pakistani (27%) 1,112,282
Other BritishAsian (39%) 1,635,419

3. Apprenticeship Statistics: England 2015/16
Asian or Asian British
Black or Black British
British Mixed andOther / Unknown
White
• White (88.1%) 448,830
• Asian or Asian British (4.2%) 21,380
• Black or Black British (3.4%) 17,500
• British Mixed and
Other / Unknown(4.3%) 21,690
Total Apprentices 509,400
Source: FE Data Library and
House of Commons Briefing Paper, Number 06113, 21 November 2016
Apprenticeship Statistics: England

4. Apprentices take-up against
Norm for the Population
British Mixed /
Other, 134%
White, 103%
Black or Black British, 97%
Asian or Asian British,
54%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 120% 140% 160%
Ethnicity

5. British Asians in Apprenticeships
0
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
Over the past 10 years, the up
take of Apprenticeships by
British Asians has increased
from circa 4,680 to 21,380
Despite this, British Asians are
falling behind with only 4.2%
entering apprenticeships,
which is 3.6% below a 54%
shortfall from the expected.
However this is not the
full story!!
* House of Commons Briefing Paper, Number 06113,
21 November 2016 Apprenticeship Statistics:
England
The growth of British Asians in Apprenticeships

6. Asian Apprentice Statistics
• The British Asian population of England is growing
faster than the overall population
• More than one in three (36.5%) British Asians are
under 15, compared with fewer than one in five
whites (18.5%).
• 58% of the demographics in a specific case of
British Pakistanis in Birmingham are under 24
against 31.75% for White as a like for like
comparison, this is depicted in the next two
charts.

7. Age Pyramids of Pakistani
British Asians in Birmingham
MAPPING OF RACE AND POVERTY IN BIRMINGHAM
Alessio Cangiano – ESRC Centre on Migration, Policy and
Society (COMPAS, University of Oxford)

8. Age Pyramids of Whites in
Birmingham

9. University Statistics: England 2015/16
Asian or Asian British
Black or Black British
British Mixed and Other / Unknown
White
White (77%) 1,417,300
Asian or Asian British 10% 183,505
Black or Black Brtitish (7%) 122,150
British Mixed and
Other / Unknown(6%) 119,360
Total Number at University
1,842,315
UK Domicile all years
Source: www.hesa.ac.uk

10. University take-up against Norm for the
Population
However As before this is not the full story!!
Because of the over representation of young demographic which will skew the
numbers further.
Asian or Asian British ,
128%
Black or Black British ,
189%
British Mixed and Other
/ Unkown, 203%
White , 90%
0% 50% 100% 150% 200% 250%
Ethnicity

11. Asians & University
• Many mature British Asians see University or
working for a family member the favourable choice
with little thought for career planning.
• With the introduction of Higher & Degree
Apprenticeships; a great alternative to university,
offering qualifications up to degree level, no tuition
fees and the opportunity to earn while you learn.

12. Apprenticeships Take-up
Ethnic Groups
Unemployment
Rate
White 5%
Asian 7%

13. Other Points for Discussion
The removal of Uplifts under the new Apprenticeship funding rules
for example in London will remove the driver for many providers to
target areas that are most in need of support including those with
high densities of British Asians
There is therefore a growing problem of a growing young
contingent within an underrepresented group, with low perceived
value given to apprenticeship training. In addition to a misalignment
of funding in relation to this underrepresented group.
This leading to a polarisation of skills of those with either a
University Education or those left in a Skills Trap.