Academic year 2020/21

Apprenticeships in England by industry characteristics

Data guidance

Published

Description

This release presents statistics on apprenticeship starts by their employer industry 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, gender, learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities, ethnicity and whether they live in a relatively deprived area (based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation (opens in a new tab)),
  • 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 industry characteristics - industry sector, size band and legal status.

Coverage

The linked education and business (ILR-IDBR) dataset covers nine academic years between 2012/13 and 2020/21 and is used here to produce:

  1. Estimates for volumes of apprenticeship starts by employer industry characteristics,
  2. Estimates of the volume of enterprises with apprenticeship starts, by employer industry characteristics,
  3. For the first time, estimates for volumes of apprenticeship achievements by employer industry characteristics, between 2018/19 and 2020/21.

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

All data files associated with this releases are listed below with guidance on their content. To download any of these files, please visit our data catalogue.

Apprenticeship achievements by enterprise characteristics

Filename
table8_2021_.csv
Geographic levels
National; Regional
Time period
2018/19 to 2020/21
Content

Data covering the industry characteristics of apprenticeship achievements in England, where a match has been made between the ILR and the ONS IDBR.

Broken down by levy status, enterprise size, two-digit SIC of enterprise, IMD, sector of enterprise and standard classification. 

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable nameVariable description
ASALevySupportedASA levy supported
EmployerSizeSize of enterprise
IMDIndex of multiple deprivation
NumberofAchievementsNumber of Achievements
SectorSector of enterprise
StandardApprenticeship standard
TwoDigitSectorTwo digit sector code of enterprise
Footnotes
  1. The learner's home postcode has been linked to the Index of Multiple Deprivation to identify learners living in relatively deprived areas (i.e. the 20% most deprived areas in England).

Apprenticeship achievements by enterprise characteristics and geography - LAD

Filename
table9_2021_.csv
Geographic levels
Local authority district; National; Regional
Time period
2018/19 to 2020/21
Content

Data covering the industry characteristics of apprenticeship achievements in England, where a match has been made between the ILR and the ONS IDBR.

Broken down by enterprise size, enterprise sector, levy status and local authority of workplace. 

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable nameVariable description
ASALevySupportedASA levy supported
EmployerSizeSize of enterprise
NumberofAchievementsNumber of Achievements
SectorSector of enterprise

Apprenticeship achievements by enterprise characteristics and geography - ParlCon

Filename
table10_2021_.csv
Geographic levels
National; Parliamentary constituency; Regional
Time period
2018/19 to 2020/21
Content

Data covering the industry characteristics of apprenticeship achievements in England, where a match has been made between the ILR and the ONS IDBR.

Broken down by enterprise size, enterprise sector, levy status and parliamentary constituency of workplace. 

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable nameVariable description
ASALevySupportedASA levy supported
EmployerSizeSize of enterprise
NumberofAchievementsNumber of Achievements
SectorSector of enterprise

Apprenticeship achievements by enterprise characteristics, apprenticeship level, sex and age

Filename
table12_2021.csv
Geographic levels
National
Time period
2018/19 to 2020/21
Content

Data covering the industry characteristics of apprenticeship achievements in England, where a match has been made between the ILR and the ONS IDBR.

Broken down by age band, levy status, ethnicity, IMD, level, LLDD, sector, gender, apprenticeship standard.

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable nameVariable description
AgeAge band
ASALevySupportedASA levy supported
EthnicityEthnicity
IMDIndex of multiple deprivation
LevelLevel
LlddLLDD
NumberofAchievementsNumber of Achievements
SectorSector of enterprise
SexGender
StandardApprenticeship standard
Footnotes
  1. Age, gender, learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities and ethnicity are based upon self-declaration by the learner
  2. The learner's home postcode has been linked to the Index of Multiple Deprivation to identify learners living in relatively deprived areas (i.e. the 20% most deprived areas in England).

Apprenticeship achievements by enterprise characteristics, SSA and apprenticeship level

Filename
table11_2021_.csv
Geographic levels
National
Time period
2018/19 to 2020/21
Content

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, level, enterprise sector, sector subject area (tier 1), apprenticeship standard.

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable nameVariable description
ASALevySupportedASA levy supported
EmployerSizeSize of enterprise
LevelLevel
NumberofAchievementsNumber of Achievements
SectorSector of enterprise
SSATier1Sector subject area tier one
StandardApprenticeship standard

Apprenticeship starts by enterprise characteristics

Filename
table1_2021_.csv
Geographic levels
National; Regional
Time period
2012/13 to 2020/21
Content

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, two-digit SIC of enterprise, IMD, sector of enterprise and standard classification. 

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable nameVariable description
ASALevySupportedASA levy supported
EmployerSizeSize of enterprise
IMDIndex of multiple deprivation
NumberofStartsNumber of apprenticeship starts
SectorSector of enterprise
StandardApprenticeship standard
TwoDigitSectorTwo digit sector code of enterprise
Footnotes
  1. The learner's home postcode has been linked to the Index of Multiple Deprivation to identify learners living in relatively deprived areas (i.e. the 20% most deprived areas in England).

Apprenticeship starts by enterprise characteristics and geography - LAD

Filename
table2_2021.csv
Geographic levels
Local authority district; National; Regional
Time period
2012/13 to 2020/21
Content

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, enterprise sector, levy status and local authority of workplace. 

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable nameVariable description
ASALevySupportedASA levy supported
EmployerSizeSize of enterprise
NumberofStartsNumber of apprenticeship starts
SectorSector of enterprise

Apprenticeship starts by enterprise characteristics and geography - ParlCon

Filename
table3_2021.csv
Geographic levels
National; Parliamentary constituency; Regional
Time period
2012/13 to 2020/21
Content

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, enterprise sector, levy status and parliamentary constituency of workplace. 

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable nameVariable description
ASALevySupportedASA levy supported
EmployerSizeSize of enterprise
NumberofStartsNumber of apprenticeship starts
SectorSector of enterprise

Apprenticeship starts by enterprise characteristics and standard title

Filename
table6_2021_.csv
Geographic levels
National
Time period
2020/21
Content

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,  aim title, level, sector subject area (Tier 1) and standard classification. 

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable nameVariable description
AimtitleAim Title
LevelLevel
NumberofStartsNumber of apprenticeship starts
SectorSector of enterprise
SizeSize of Enterprise

Apprenticeship starts by enterprise characteristics, apprenticeship level, sex and age

Filename
table5_2021_.csv
Geographic levels
National
Time period
2012/13 to 2020/21
Content

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, ethnicity, IMD, level, LLDD, sector, gender, apprenticeship standard.

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable nameVariable description
AgeAge band
ASALevySupportedASA levy supported
EthnicityEthnicity
IMDIndex of multiple deprivation
LevelLevel
LlddLLDD
NumberofStartsNumber of apprenticeship starts
SectorSector of enterprise
SexGender
StandardApprenticeship standard
Footnotes
  1. Age, gender, learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities and ethnicity are based upon self-declaration by the learner
  2. The learner's home postcode has been linked to the Index of Multiple Deprivation to identify learners living in relatively deprived areas (i.e. the 20% most deprived areas in England).

Apprenticeship starts by enterprise characteristics, SSA and apprenticeship level

Filename
table4_2021.csv
Geographic levels
National
Time period
2012/13 to 2020/21
Content

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, level, enterprise sector, sector subject area (tier 1), apprenticeship standard.

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable nameVariable description
ASALevySupportedASA levy supported
EmployerSizeSize of enterprise
LevelLevel
NumberofStartsNumber of apprenticeship starts
SectorSector of enterprise
SSATier1Sector subject area tier one
StandardApprenticeship standard

Enterprises with apprenticeship starts by enterprise characteristics

Filename
table7_2021_.csv
Geographic levels
National
Time period
2012/13 to 2020/21
Content

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, number of enterprises, enterprise sector, two-digit sector code of enterprise.

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable nameVariable description
ASALevySupportedStartsAt least one start ASA levy supported
EnterpriseSizeSize of enterprise
LegalStatusLegal status of enterprise
NumberofEnterprisesNumber of enterprises
SectorSector of enterprise
TwoDigitSectorTwo digit sector code of enterprise

Rate of apprenticeship starts in employee and business populations

Filename
table14_2021_.csv
Geographic levels
National
Time period
2018/19 to 2020/21
Content

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

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable nameVariable description
ApprenticesPer1kEmployeesNumber of apprentices per 1,000 employees within sector
EnterprisesWithAppsPer1kEntsNumber of enterprises with apprenticeship starts, per 1,000 enterprises within sector
NumberOfStartsNumber of apprenticeship starts
SectorEnterprise sector

Summary data for headline figures (1)

Filename
sme_headline.csv
Geographic levels
National
Time period
2020/21
Content

Figures for headline statistics summary box

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable nameVariable description
pctstartsSMEPercentage of apprenticeship starts in SMEs in 2020/21

Summary data for headline figures (2)

Filename
ents_headline.csv
Geographic levels
National
Time period
2020/21
Content

Figures for headline statistics summary box

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable nameVariable description
entswithappstartsper1000Number of enterprises with apprenticeship starts, per 1,000 enterprises in England

Apprenticeships by learner and industry characteristics

Filename
amendment_learner_.csv
Geographic levels
National
Time period
2020/21
Content

Data covering the industry characteristics of apprenticeship starts and achievements in England, where a match has been made between the ILR and the ONS IDBR.

Broken down by enterprise size, two-digit SIC of enterprise, aim title, level, age band, ethnicity, IMD, level, LLDD, and gender.

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable nameVariable description
AgeAge band
AimtitleAim Title
EmployerSizeSize of enterprise
EthnicityEthnicity
IMDIndex of multiple deprivation
LevelLevel
LlddLLDD
NumberofAchievementsNumber of Achievements
NumberofStartsNumber of apprenticeship starts
SexGender
TwoDigitSectorTwo digit sector code of enterprise

Apprenticeship and industry characteristics by region

Filename
amendment_region_.csv
Geographic levels
National; Regional
Time period
2015/16 to 2020/21
Content

Data covering the industry characteristics of apprenticeship starts and achievements in England, where a match has been made between the ILR and the ONS IDBR.

Broken down by region, enterprise size, two-digit SIC of enterprise, aim title and level.

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable nameVariable description
AimtitleAim Title
EmployerSizeSize of enterprise
LevelLevel
NumberofAchievementsNumber of Achievements
NumberofStartsNumber of apprenticeship starts
TwoDigitSectorTwo digit sector code of enterprise

Creative industries - apprenticeships by learner and industry characteristics

Filename
amendment_learner_creative_.csv
Geographic levels
National
Time period
2020/21
Content

Data covering the industry characteristics of apprenticeship starts and achievements in England in the creative sector, where a match has been made between the ILR and the ONS IDBR.

Broken down by region, enterprise size, sector of enterprise, creative subsector, aim title and level.

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable nameVariable description
AgeAge band
AimtitleAim Title
creative_subsectorCreative subsector
EmployerSizeSize of enterprise
EthnicityEthnicity
IMDIndex of multiple deprivation
LevelLevel
levyfundedASA levy supported
LlddLLDD
NumberofAchievementsNumber of apprenticeship achievements
NumberofStartsNumber of appprenticeship starts
SexGender
SIC_descriptionSector description
SSATier1Sector subject area tier one

Creative industries - apprenticeship and industry characteristics by region

Filename
amendment_region_creative_.csv
Geographic levels
National; Regional
Time period
2015/16 to 2020/21
Content

Data covering the industry characteristics of apprenticeship starts and achievements in England in the creative sector, where a match has been made between the ILR and the ONS IDBR.

Broken down by enterprise size, sector of enterprise,  creative subsector, aim title, level, age band, ethnicity, IMD, level, LLDD, and gender.

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable nameVariable description
AimtitleAim Title
creative_subsectorCreative subsector
EmployerSizeSize of enterprise
LevelLevel
levyfundedASA levy supported
NumberofAchievementsNumber of apprenticeship achievements
NumberofStartsNumber of apprenticeship starts
SIC_descriptionSector description
SSATier1Sector subject area tier one