Mixing tradition with enterprise: The case of English Apprenticeships

Abstract

The paper is an empirical critique of the use of tradition in the field of apprenticeship education in England. The paper briefly traces the history of apprenticeship schemes over the last 300 years in order to provide the historical and cultural context in which the new apprenticeship scheme has been launched and supported by the current coalition Government. In so doing the paper throws light on new forms of power and dominance that such a return to tradition may invoke. Indeed, the apprenticeship discourse, while building on the traditional values of providing education and employment, has now been coupled with an enterprising and citizenship discourse in an attempt to normalise behaviour at an individual and institutional level.