Transparency data

Natural England apprenticeships 2017 to 2018

Updated 7 October 2020

Natural England is committed to supporting the government’s target of creating 3 million apprenticeships by March 2021. It aims to provide an average of 2.3% new apprenticeships starts against its annual headcount between April 2017 and March 2021.

Natural England achieved 13 (0.7%) apprenticeship starts from 1 April 2017 to 31 March 2018.

Apprenticeship standards and skills

Natural England is mainly a technical organisation which limits its use of approved apprenticeship standards.

Natural England’s approach is to:

  • use entry level apprenticeships to give people the chance to join the environmental sector - especially those from groups under-represented in this sector
  • use relevant apprenticeships to develop the skills and capabilities of existing staff
  • develop the content of new apprenticeships so its future workforce has the technical and environmental skills it will need

Opportunities for apprenticeships

Natural England will continue to explore where apprenticeships can:

  • support its current and future workforce requirements
  • improve employee retention, diversity and inclusion

Data publication: 1 April 2017 to 31 March 2018

Natural England is required to publish the following data:

Information required Response
Figure A: The number of employees whose employment in England by the body began in the reporting period in question 308
Figure B: The number of apprentices who began to work for the body in that period and whose apprenticeship agreements also began in that period. This includes employees who were already working for the body before beginning their apprenticeship, as well as new apprentice hires 13
Figure C: The number of employees employed in England that the body has at the end of that period 2283
Figure D: The number of apprentices who work for the body at the end of that period 13

Natural England is also required to provide 2 percentages to give context to the other figures. These percentages do not reflect the progress it has made towards the target.

Information required Response
Figure E: Figure B expressed as a percentage of figure A 4.2%
Figure F: Figure D expressed as a percentage of figure C 0.7%

As this is Natural England’s first reporting period it must also provide:

Information required Response
Figure G: The number of apprentices who worked for the body immediately before that period 16