Commenting on the recent GCSE results Verity Davidge, director of central policy and skills at Make UK, said:

“Clearly these results are in extraordinary circumstances but, despite this, from apprenticeships, to new T Levels, and further education, there still remains a wealth of opportunities for young people to explore. In order to take advantage of these opportunities and prevent apprenticeship starts falling off a cliff this academic year, Government must move quickly to ensure that BTEC students receive their results as soon as possible, otherwise without a quick fix, there is a risk that vocational pathways are once again seen as second best to academic qualifications.

“While results are important, employers are looking for well-rounded individuals and have always looked beyond just exams grades when recruiting the next generation of talent. As such, in these difficult times we would urge employers to continue to make these opportunities open and accessible to all.

“As we move forward, it’s imperative that no stone must be left unturned to ensure young people are not unfairly disadvantaged as a result of Covid-19 in the long-term. The first step on this road should be establishing a National Skills Taskforce to work in partnership with industry to oversee the skills challenges we face and help deliver the pathways to success for thousands of young people.”