Between 2002/03 and 2015/16, the percentage of ethnic minority learners starting apprenticeships in the UK increased from 5.3% to 10.6% while total apprenticeship starts increased over 3 times. The number of starts for ethnic minority groups grew over 6 times. However, ethnic minority learners were still underrepresented compared to their share of the overall population in 2015/16. Apprenticeship starts increased substantially for all ethnic groups between 2002/03 and 2015/16 but growth rates varied by year and ethnic group.

1. ETHNICITY FACTS AND FIGURES
2002-2016

2. KEY FACTS
The main facts and figures show that:
• between 2002/03 and 2015/16, the percentage of ethnic minority learners (excluding White
minorities) starting an apprenticeship increased from 5.3% to 10.6% dependant on ethnic grouping
• total apprenticeship starts increased by more than 3 times over the same period, from 167,700 to
509,400 - this may be due in part from the move away from Train2Gain provision as can be seen in
the peek in growth on the next slide.
• the number of apprenticeship starts across ethnic minority groups (excluding White minorities) grew
by more than 6 times over the reported period, from 8,900 to 53,480 – what we need to focus on
however is how this growth relates proportionately to the total increase in apprenticeships.
• in 2015/16, 10.6% of learners starting an apprenticeship were from an ethnic minority background
(excluding White minorities), which is lower than their share of the overall population
• What the data released by the Department for Education and Education and Skills Funding Agency fails
to consider is the relative population size of those who are within working age and how this related to
other educational take-up.

3. PERCENTAGE GROWTH IN APPRENTICESHIPS
Percentage growth against previous year
Year All Asian Black Mixed White Other Unknown
Ethnic
minority (excl.
White
minorities)
2003/04 15.4% 19.9% 10.2% 27.7% 15.8% -36.8% -3.9% 11.9%
2004/05 -2.4% 10.7% 3.5% 8.8% -3.1% 22.4% 17.8% 9.0%
2005/06 -7.4% -12.0% -19.5% -6.1% -7.0% -8.5% -22.1% -12.4%
2006/07 5.4% 14.1% 3.4% 15.2% 5.1% 0.0% 7.5% 10.6%
2007/08 21.9% 38.9% 48.1% 18.4% 20.7% 33.3% 59.0% 35.5%
2008/09 6.7% 45.4% 41.9% 21.9% 4.6% 22.0% 7.0% 37.7%
2009/10 16.6% -0.6% 25.0% 30.7% 16.9% 17.2% 8.6% 13.3%
2010/11 63.5% 105.2% 128.6% 65.1% 59.8% 140.6% 71.1% 105.2%
2011/12 13.9% 7.5% 18.8% 18.8% 14.2% -0.3% -6.2% 12.6%
2012/13 -2.0% -5.0% -4.4% 2.6% -2.0% -1.5% 17.3% -3.1%
2013/14 -13.7% -5.5% -17.7% -6.3% -14.0% -8.0% -18.0% -9.9%
2014/15 13.5% 15.6% 26.4% 15.4% 13.0% 12.5% 6.6% 18.6%
2015/16 1.9% -0.6% 1.4% 1.6% 1.5% 0.0% 61.2% 0.5%
-20.00%
0.00%
20.00%
40.00%
60.00%
80.00%
100.00%
120.00%
Asian growth Ethnic minority (excl. White minorities) Growth

4. ETHNICITY COMPARISON
0
5000
10000
15000
20000
25000
30000
35000
40000
45000
50000
2002/03
2003/04
2004/05
2005/06
2006/07
2007/08
2008/09
2009/10
2010/11
2011/12
2012/13
2013/14
2014/15
2015/16
Black

5. WHITE V’S ETHNIC STARTS

6. ANALYSIS OF ETHNICITY 2003- 2016
Apprenticeship Starts by Year
Year All Asian Black Mixed White Other Unknown
Ethnic
minority (excl.
White
minorities)
2002/03 167700 3510 2560 1770 157270 1060 1520 8900
2003/04 193600 4210 2820 2260 182140 670 1460 9960
2004/05 189000 4660 2920 2460 176450 820 1720 10860
2005/06 175000 4100 2350 2310 164120 750 1340 9510
2006/07 184400 4680 2430 2660 172470 750 1440 10520
2007/08 224800 6500 3600 3150 208230 1000 2290 14250
2008/09 239900 9450 5110 3840 217890 1220 2450 19620
2009/10 279700 9390 6390 5020 254780 1430 2660 22230
2010/11 457200 19270 14610 8290 407050 3440 4550 45610
2011/12 520600 20720 17350 9850 464960 3430 4270 51350
2012/13 510200 19690 16590 10110 455440 3380 5010 49770
2013/14 440400 18600 13650 9470 391480 3110 4110 44830
2014/15 499900 21510 17250 10930 442340 3500 4380 53190
2015/16 509400 21380 17500 11100 448830 3500 7060 53480
Percentage of Population Undertaking Apprenticeships
Year All Asian Black Mixed White Other Unknown
Ethnic
minority (excl.
White
minorities)
2002/03 100.0% 2.1% 1.5% 1.1% 93.8% 0.6% 0.9% 5.3%
2003/04 100.0% 2.2% 1.5% 1.2% 94.1% 0.3% 0.8% 5.3%
2004/05 100.0% 2.5% 1.5% 1.3% 93.4% 0.4% 0.9% 5.1%
2005/06 100.0% 2.3% 1.3% 1.3% 93.8% 0.4% 0.8% 5.7%
2006/07 100.0% 2.5% 1.3% 1.4% 93.5% 0.4% 0.8% 5.4%
2007/08 100.0% 2.9% 1.6% 1.4% 92.6% 0.4% 1.0% 5.7%
2008/09 100.0% 3.9% 2.1% 1.6% 90.8% 0.5% 1.0% 6.3%
2009/10 100.0% 3.4% 2.3% 1.8% 91.1% 0.5% 1.0% 8.2%
2010/11 100.0% 4.2% 3.2% 1.8% 89.0% 0.8% 1.0% 7.9%
2011/12 100.0% 4.0% 3.3% 1.9% 89.3% 0.7% 0.8% 10.0%
2012/13 100.0% 3.9% 3.3% 2.0% 89.3% 0.7% 1.0% 9.9%
2013/14 100.0% 4.2% 3.1% 2.2% 88.9% 0.7% 0.9% 9.8%
2014/15 100.0% 4.3% 3.5% 2.2% 88.5% 0.7% 0.9% 10.2%
2015/16 100.0% 4.2% 3.4% 2.2% 88.1% 0.7% 1.4% 10.6%

7. KEEP IN TOUCH:
https://uk.linkedin.com/in/safaraz
https://www.facebook.com/pathwaygroup/
@pathwaygroup @SafarazAli
Safaraz Ali (Saf)
Safaraz@pathwaygroup.co.uk
Eddie Cottis (Eddie)
Eddie.cottis@pathwaygroup.co.uk
Alternatively phone: 0121 707 0550