Apprenticeships in England by industry characteristics 
Academic year 2019/20

Description

This release presents statistics on apprenticeship starts by their employer enterprise characteristics.

Data from the Individualised Learner Record (ILR), Apprenticeship Service and Office for National Statistics Inter-departmental Business Register (IDBR) have been matched.

This allows information about apprentices to be linked to information about their employers, covering:

- Learner characteristics - age and gender,
- Apprenticeship information - level, standard/framework, subject studied, geography of workplace and whether they were supported by levy funds from an Apprenticeship Service Account (ASA),
- Employer enterprise characteristics - industry sector, size band and legal status.

Coverage

The linked education and business (ILR-IDBR) dataset covers eight academic years between 2012/13 and 2019/20 and is used here to produce:

1. Estimates for volumes of apprenticeship starts by employer enterprise characteristics,
2. An analysis of the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on apprenticeship starts in 2019/20, by industry sector,
3. Estimates of the volume of enterprises with apprenticeship starts, by enterprise characteristics,
4. For the first time, an analysis of retention and frequency of engagement of enterprises with apprenticeship starts, between 2012/13 and 2019/20.

File formats and conventions

The underlying data files are provided in comma separated value (csv) format.

Whole numbers are rounded to the nearest 10, percentages are provided to the nearest one decimal place. Figures have been suppressed with the value ‘c’ for numbers lower than 3, and percentages where the numerator is less than 3 or the denominator is less than 6.

Data files

Table 10 Enterprises with apprenticeship starts in 201213 by apprenticeship status between 201213 and 201920

Filename: table10.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2012/13 to 2019/20
Content summary: Data covering the retention of enterprises with apprenticeship starts in England, where a match has been made between the ILR and the ONS IDBR.

Broken down by enterprise status, enterprise sector, two digit sector code and enterprise size.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name           |  Variable description
----------------------  |  --------------------------------------------------
EntStatus               |  Enterprise apprenticeship status in current year
EntStatusFollowingYear  |  Enterprise apprenticeship status in following year
NewSector               |  Enterprise industry sector
NumberOfFEEmployers     |  Number of enterprises
PercentOfFEEmployers    |  Percentage of enterprises
SIC                     |  Detailed enterprise industry sector - 2 digit SIC
SizeBand                |  Enterprise size

Footnotes:

1. Percentages are rounded to one decimal place and are calculated on unrounded volumes.


Table 11 Apprenticeship starts, and enterprises with apprenticeship starts as a proportion of workforce and business population by sector

Filename: table11_.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2019/20
Content summary: Data covering the industry characteristics of apprenticeship starts and enterprises with apprenticeship starts in England as a proportion of workforce and business population by sector, where a match has been made between the ILR and the ONS IDBR.

Also includes additional ONS BRES and ONS UK Business data to provide details on workforce and business populations by sector.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name               |  Variable description
--------------------------  |  ------------------------------------------------
ApprenticesPer10kEmployees  |  Number of apprentices per 1,000 within sector
EnterprisesPer10kEmployees  |  Number of enterprises per 1,000 within sector
NumberEnterprisesWithApps   |  Number of enterprises with apprenticeship starts
NumberOFEmploymees          |  Total number of employees in sector
NumberOfStarts              |  Number of apprenticeship starts
Sector                      |  Enterprise sector
TotalNumberOfEnterprises    |  Total number of enterprises in sector

Footnotes:

1. Volumes of apprenticeships starts have been rounded to the nearest 1.
2. Number of apprenticeships and enterprises per 1,000 within sector have been rounded to the nearest whole number.


Table 1A Apprenticeship starts with enterprise characteristics

Filename: table1a_.csv
Geographic levels: National; Regional
Time period: 2012/13 to 2019/20
Content summary: Data covering the industry characteristics of apprenticeship starts in England, where a match has been made between the ILR and the ONS IDBR.

Broken down by levy status, enterprise size, IMD, legal status, sector of enterprise and standard classification.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name       |  Variable description
------------------  |  -----------------------------------
ASALevySupported    |  ASA levy supported
EmployerSize        |  Size of enterprise
IMD                 |  Index of multiple deprivation
LegalStatus         |  Legal status of enterprise
NumberofStarts      |  Number of apprenticeship starts
PercentageofStarts  |  Percentage of apprenticeship starts
Sector              |  Sector of enterprise
Standard            |  Apprenticeship standard

Footnotes:

1. Percentages are rounded to one decimal place and are calculated on unrounded volumes.
2. 2019/20 apprenticeship starts supported by ASA levy funds are currently classed as provisional and an amended methodology has been applied to this year only. Therefore, 2019/20 figures are not directly comparable to previous years. See methodology note for more information.
3. Indices of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) quintiles are based on the learner's home postcode as follows: 2012/13 to 2014/15 are based on the 2010 IMD rank, 2015/16 to 2018/19 are based on the 2015 IMD rank and 2019/20 are based on the 2019 IMD rank.


Table 1B Apprenticeship starts with enterprise characteristics and two digit sector breakdown 201213 - 201920

Filename: table1b_.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2012/13 to 2019/20
Content summary: Data covering the industry characteristics of apprenticeship starts in England, where a match has been made between the ILR and the ONS IDBR.

Broken down by  enterprise size,  sector of enterprise, two digit sector code of enterprise and standard classification.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name       |  Variable description
------------------  |  -----------------------------------
EmployerSize        |  Size of enterprise
NumberofStarts      |  Number of apprenticeship starts
PercentageofStarts  |  Percentage of apprenticeship starts
Sector              |  Sector of enterprise
Standard            |  Apprenticeship standard
TwoDigitSector      |  Two digit sector code of enterprise

Footnotes:

1. Percentages are rounded to one decimal place and are calculated on unrounded volumes.


Table 2  Apprenticeship starts between 201213 and 201920 by geography  - LA

Filename: table2.csv
Geographic levels: Local authority; National; Regional
Time period: 2012/13 to 2019/20
Content summary: Data covering the industry characteristics of apprenticeship starts in England, where a match has been made between the ILR and the ONS IDBR.

Broken down by enterprise size and local authority of workplace.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name       |  Variable description
------------------  |  -----------------------------------
EmployerSize        |  Size of enterprise
NumberofStarts      |  Number of apprenticeship starts
PercentageofStarts  |  Percentage of apprenticeship starts

Footnotes:

1. Percentages are rounded to one decimal place and are calculated on unrounded volumes.
2. Geography is based on the workplace postcode of the apprenticeship.


Table 3 Apprenticeship starts between 201213 and 201920 by geography  - PCON

Filename: table3.csv
Geographic levels: National; Parliamentary constituency; Regional
Time period: 2012/13 to 2019/20
Content summary: Data covering the industry characteristics of apprenticeship starts in England, where a match has been made between the ILR and the ONS IDBR.

Broken down by enterprise size and parliamentary constituency workplace.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name       |  Variable description
------------------  |  -----------------------------------
EmployerSize        |  Size of enterprise
NumberofStarts      |  Number of apprenticeship starts
PercentageofStarts  |  Percentage of apprenticeship starts

Footnotes:

1. Percentages are rounded to one decimal place and are calculated on unrounded volumes.
2. Geography is based on the workplace postcode of the apprenticeship.


Table 4A Apprenticeship starts between 201213 and 201920 with learner characteristics - SSA, level and IMD

Filename: table4a.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2012/13 to 2019/20
Content summary: Data covering the industry characteristics of apprenticeship starts in England, where a match has been made between the ILR and the ONS IDBR.

Broken down by enterprise size, levy funded, IMD, level, enterprise sector, sector subject area (Tier 1) and standard classification.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name       |  Variable description
------------------  |  -----------------------------------
ASALevySupported    |  ASA levy supported
EmployerSize        |  Size of enterprise
IMD                 |  Index of multiple deprivation
Level               |  Level
NumberofStarts      |  Number of apprenticeship starts
PercentageofStarts  |  Percentage of apprenticeship starts
Sector              |  Sector of enterprise
SSATier1            |  Sector subject area tier one
Standard            |  Apprenticeship standard

Footnotes:

1. Percentages are rounded to one decimal place and are calculated on unrounded volumes.
2. 2019/20 apprenticeship starts supported by ASA levy funds are currently classed as provisional and an amended methodology has been applied to this year only. Therefore, 2019/20 figures are not directly comparable to previous years. See methodology note for more information.
3. Indices of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) quintiles are based on the learner's home postcode as follows: 2012/13 to 2014/15 are based on the 2010 IMD rank, 2015/16 to 2018/19 are based on the 2015 IMD rank and 2019/20 are based on the 2019 IMD rank.


Table 4B Apprenticeship starts between 201213 and 201920 with learner characteristics - Level, gender and age band

Filename: table4b_.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2012/13 to 2019/20
Content summary: Data covering the industry characteristics of apprenticeship starts in England, where a match has been made between the ILR and the ONS IDBR.

Broken down by age band, levy status, level, enterprise sector, gender and standard classification.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name       |  Variable description
------------------  |  -----------------------------------
Age                 |  Age band
ASALevySupported    |  ASA levy supported
Level               |  Level
NumberofStarts      |  Number of apprenticeship starts
PercentageofStarts  |  Percentage of apprenticeship starts
Sector              |  Sector of enterprise
Sex                 |  Gender
Standard            |  Apprenticeship standard

Footnotes:

1. Percentages are rounded to one decimal place and are calculated on unrounded volumes.
2. 2019/20 apprenticeship starts supported by ASA levy funds are currently classed as provisional and an amended methodology has been applied to this year only. Therefore, 2019/20 figures are not directly comparable to previous years. See methodology note for more information.


Table 5A Enterprises with apprenticeship starts between 201213 and 201920 - characteristics

Filename: table5a_.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2012/13 to 2019/20
Content summary: Data covering the industry characteristics of enterprises with apprenticeship starts in England, where a match has been made between the ILR and the ONS IDBR.

Broken down by levy status, enterprise size, legal status and enterprise sector.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name            |  Variable description
-----------------------  |  -------------------------------------
ASALevySupportedStarts   |  At least one start ASA levy supported
EnterpriseSize           |  Size of enterprise
LegalStatus              |  Legal status of enterprise
NumberofEnterprises      |  Number of enterprises
PercentageofEnterprises  |  Percentage of enterprises
Sector                   |  Sector of enterprise

Footnotes:

1. Percentages are rounded to one decimal place and are calculated on unrounded volumes.
2. 2019/20 apprenticeship starts supported by ASA levy funds are currently classed as provisional and an amended methodology has been applied to this year only. Therefore, 2019/20 figures are not directly comparable to previous years. See methodology note for more information.


Table 5B Enterprises with apprenticeship starts between 201213 and 201920 - two digit sector breakdown

Filename: table5b_.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2012/13 to 2019/20
Content summary: Data covering the industry characteristics of enterprises with apprenticeship starts in England, where a match has been made between the ILR and the ONS IDBR.

Broken down by  enterprise size, enterprise sector and two digit sector code of enterprise.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name            |  Variable description
-----------------------  |  -----------------------------------
EnterpriseSize           |  Size of enterprise
NumberofEnterprises      |  Number of enterprises
PercentageofEnterprises  |  Percentage of enterprises
Sector                   |  Sector of enterprise
TwoDigitSector           |  Two digit sector code of enterprise

Footnotes:

1. Percentages are rounded to one decimal place and are calculated on unrounded volumes.


Table 6  Apprenticeship starts during coronavirus and enterprise characteristics

Filename: table6.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2018/19 to 2019/20
Content summary: Data to illustrate the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on apprenticeship starts in England, where a match has been made between the ILR and the ONS IDBR

Broken down by enterprise sector, two digit sector code and enterprise size, gender, shutdown sector status, COVID-19 time period and age band.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name       |  Variable description
------------------  |  -----------------------------------
Age                 |  Age band
CovidTimePeriod     |  Time period during coronavirus
EmployerSize        |  Size of employer
NumberofStarts      |  Number of apprenticeship starts
PercentageofStarts  |  Percentage of apprenticeship starts
Sector              |  Sector of enterprise
Sex                 |  Gender
ShutdownSector      |  Shutdown Sectors
TwoDigitSector      |  Two digit sector code of enterprise

Footnotes:

1. Percentages are rounded to one decimal place and are calculated on unrounded volumes.


Table 7 Retention rates of enterprises with apprenticeship starts by characteristics 201213 - 201920

Filename: table7_.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2012/13 to 2019/20
Content summary: Data covering the retention of enterprises with apprenticeship starts in England, where a match has been made between the ILR and the ONS IDBR.

Broken down by  enterprise sector, enterprise size, levy status and standard classification.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name       |  Variable description
------------------  |  ----------------------------------------------------
ASALevySupported    |  Levy supported
Employers           |  Number of enterprises with apprenticeship starts
EmployersinAY       |  Total number of enterprises in academic year
EmployerSize        |  Enterprise size
PercentageRetained  |  Percentage of enterprises retained in following year
ProviderType        |  Provider type
RetainedEmployers   |  Number of enterprises retained in following year
Sector              |  Enterprise sector
Standard            |  Apprenticeship type

Footnotes:

1. Percentages are rounded to one decimal place and are calculated on unrounded volumes.


Table 8 All enterprises with apprenticeship starts by count of years with apprenticeship starts between 201213 - 201920

Filename: table8.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2019/20
Content summary: Data covering the retention of enterprises with apprenticeship starts in England, where a match has been made between the ILR and the ONS IDBR.

Broken down by enterprise sector,  enterprise size, levy status, provider type and standard classification.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name                         |  Variable description
------------------------------------  |  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AllEmployers                          |  Total number of enterprises with apprenticeship starts between 201213 to 201920
ASALevySupported                      |  Levy supported
Employers                             |  Number of enterprises with apprenticeship starts
EmployersinYearAppsGroup              |  Total number of enterprises with same number of years with starts
EmployerSize                          |  Enterprise size
PercentageofAllEmployers              |  Percentage of enterprises with apprenticeship starts between 201213 to 201920
PercentageofEmployersinYearAppsGroup  |  Percentage of enterprises with same number of years with apprenticeship starts
ProviderType                          |  Provider type
Sector                                |  Enterprise industry sector
Standard                              |  Apprenticeship type
yearsapps                             |  Number of years enterprise had apprenticeship starts

Footnotes:

1. Percentages are rounded to one decimal place and are calculated on unrounded volumes.
2. 2019/20 apprenticeship starts supported by ASA levy funds are currently classed as provisional and an amended methodology has been applied to this year only. Therefore, 2019/20 figures are not directly comparable to previous years. See methodology note for more information.


Table 9 Enterprises with apprenticeship starts in 201920 by count of years with apprenticeship starts and number of apprenticeship starts

Filename: table9_.csv
Geographic levels: National
Time period: 2019/20
Content summary: Data covering the retention of enterprises with apprenticeship starts in England, where a match has been made between the ILR and the ONS IDBR.

Broken down by enterprise size and enterprise sector.

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable name          |  Variable description
---------------------  |  --------------------------------------------------------------
AppStarts              |  Number of apprenticeship starts in year
AppstartsinAY          |  Total apprenticeship starts in year
Employers              |  Number of enterprises with apprenticeship starts
EmployersinAY          |  Total number of enterprises with apprenticeship starts in year
EmployerSize           |  Enterprise size
PercentageofAppStarts  |  Percentage of apprenticeship starts
PercentageofEmployers  |  Percentage of enterprises with apprenticeship starts
Sector                 |  Enterprise industry sector
yearsapps              |  Number of years enterprise had apprenticeship starts

Footnotes:

1. Percentages are rounded to one decimal place and are calculated on unrounded volumes.
