Press release

Antony Jenkins appointed as shadow chair of the Institute for Apprenticeships

Antony Jenkins has been appointed to the role of shadow chair of the Institute for Apprenticeships.

Antony Jenkins has been appointed to the role of shadow chair of the Institute for Apprenticeships - the new independent, employer-led organisation established to support the government’s plan to create 3 million apprenticeship starts by 2020.

Antony brings a wealth of experience as a chief executive of Barclays plc and the current chairman of Business in the Community – an organisation that supports businesses in acting socially responsible to create a fairer society and a more sustainable future. Antony is also a patron of the government’s employee engagement programme.

As shadow chair, Antony will be an ambassador for the Institute for Apprenticeships and will also play a key role in designing its structure and providing strategic leadership and direction to the organisation during the critical phase of its development. He will work closely with the current team in preparing the organisation to start operations in 2017.

Antony takes up his new role today (9 June 2016). With the shadow chair in place, the remaining board members of the Institute for Apprenticeships will be appointed through a public appointments process by the end of 2016.

The Institute for Apprenticeships’ primary responsibility will be to act as the ultimate decision maker on approving apprenticeship standards and assessment plans to ensure they are of high quality. It will also make recommendations on the maximum level of government funding available for those standards and how much employers can claim for them. The Institute for Apprenticeships’ ultimate goal is to ensure employees get the skills they need to succeed from the apprenticeship system.

The government is committed to creating 3 million high-quality apprenticeships by 2020 as part of its drive to help all young people fulfil their potential and boost business productivity.

Skills Minister Nick Boles said:

Antony brings more than 3 decades of experience from the heart of business to the role and will help shape the Institute for Apprenticeships so it meets the needs of employers. We’re putting employers in control when it comes to apprenticeships because it’s employers who know the skills, training and experience their future workforce needs to succeed.

Antony Jenkins said:

Apprenticeships are something I care passionately about. I am delighted to be taking on this role and working closely with different sectors which will be important in helping to create opportunities for millions of our citizens and providing great talent for business.

Antony will be joined by Nicola Bolton who has been appointed as shadow chief operating officer of the Institute for Apprenticeships.

Notes to editors:

Antony Jenkins began his banking career as a graduate trainee at Barclays in 1983. He worked at the bank until 1989, when he joined Citigroup. After stints in the US and the UK at Citigroup, he returned to Barclays to fill a series of senior management roles in retail and corporate banking. He served as chief executive from 2012 to 2015.

Published 9 June 2016