A report on the demand for and supply of technical apprenticeships was published by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills on 31st March 2014. The report, entitled Research into the need for and capacity to provide technical apprenticeships in England, was co-authored by Terence Hogarth and Lynn Gambin from IER and researchers from Sheffield Hallam University.

The report suggests that there is a lean system of skills supply in place for technician-type skills. Supply and demand are currently finely balanced with employers expressing concern that that any marked increase in demand, which may arise as a consequence of the economic recovery and the commissioning of major infrastructure projects, may result in the emergence of skills shortages.

The study involved interviews with employers, training providers and various stakeholders across England and considers a number of industrial sectors where technical apprenticeships comprise an important part of skills development.

More on IER's programme of research on apprenticeships can be found at: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/ier/research/apprenticeships-training