Joinery firm halts apprentice programme over skills reforms

A leading joinery specialist has paused its apprenticeship programme in protest against government plans to reform training which “are not fit for purpose.”
Staircase and door manufacturer Stairways Midlands has been been forced into action by controversial plans from Skills England to slash the duration of carpentry and joinery apprenticeships from 25 months to around eight.
Other moves include altering final trainee assessments to allow organisations to “sample” on