National Apprenticeship Week, the annual celebration of the impact of apprenticeships on businesses, individuals and the economy, is upon us once more, running from 4 to 8 March 2019.

Leisure Opportunities has published a special issue to coincide with the event, full of comment and perspectives on how government policies and initiatives are affecting the leisure sector, and how apprentices within the sector are experiencing the opportunities that apprenticeships bring.

With the introduction of the apprenticeship levy in 2017 actually leading to a sharp decline in the numbers of people starting apprenticeships – the opposite of the intended effect – we ask the experts to assess how the leisure sector is responding to the new apprenticeships landscape.

Matthew Robinson, client engagement director at Lifetime Training, says that overall the changes have been positive, pointing to a shift in the strategic planning that businesses are placing in the design of apprenticeship programmes. He added that there was some frustration in the speed that standards are being created, but that "we are seeing better quality apprenticeship programmes being created than ever before".

Meanwhile, Steve Conopo, head of assessment services at Active IQ, points to a misalignment between new standards and current job roles in the industry, but adds that things are "starting to harmonise as more organisations are successfully adopting these new standards".

To catch all our special apprenticeship coverage in the latest issue of Leisure Opportunities, click here.