This week is National Apprenticeship Week, an opportunity for the education and skills sector to celebrate the achievements of apprentices around the country and the positive impact they make to communities, businesses, and the wider economy.
Over 70 per cent of careers are now accessible via an
apprenticeship and the Government has delivered over 5.7 million
apprenticeships since 2010. I am a big supporter of the apprenticeship
qualification as a way to earn while you learn – getting the real and practical
skills that let people start their careers getting real experience in the field
they want to work in while getting paid. I have employed two apprentices myself
during my time as MP and have seen firsthand the positives this qualification
brings to those who take it.
On Monday this week I was delighted to welcome Robert Halfon
MP Minister of State for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher Education to the
Eden Project to celebrate the start of National Apprenticeship Week. The
Minister visited Eden to discuss their unique apprenticeship programme and meet
with Horticulture, Arboriculture and Sustainability apprentices.
It was also good to meet with the Minister and the Head of
Cornwall College to discuss their plans for their new St Austell Campus, after
I worked with the college to secure the millions of pounds of funding required
to do so. Colleges throughout Cornwall offer excellent apprenticeship schemes,
particularly Cornwall College, which is specialising as a ‘Careers College’,
specialising in apprenticeships.
The Cornwall College Group, which includes campuses in both
St Austell and Newquay, as well as elsewhere in the Duchy, is the top-performing
college for apprenticeships in the South West, 11.8% above the National
Average, and as such is one of the leading providers of apprenticeships in the
UK.
It was great to discuss their current success and plans for
the future with the Minister and I hope that some of Cornwall College’s great
ideas for the future can be used to inspire best practice around the country.
You can find out more about apprenticeships available
through Cornwall College via their website: https://www.cornwall.ac.uk/apprenticeships/
Up in Parliament on Wednesday, at the time of writing, I am
scheduled to be speaking at the Hospitality Apprenticeship Showcase.
As the former Chair
of the Hospitality and Tourism All Party Parliamentary Group I am particularly
keen to work with this sector, and given how important it is to Cornwall,
ensure that working in this area is a stable career prospect for people of all
ages and those within all social groups.
The hospitality sector is the country’s third biggest
employer, employing over 3.5million people and I am looking forward to bringing
a Cornish perspective to the event, and speaking to some of the 200 apprentices
from employers from across the country will be there showcasing their skills.
Over my time as MP the apprenticeship qualification and the
Government’s work to promote and expand it has been a real success story both
in Cornwall and nationally. I will continue to work to ensure apprentices,
employers and providers like Cornwall College are all given as much support as
possible to ensure this continues.
As ever, if I can be of assistance on any matter, my office
is available for any constituents needing help, advice or guidance – tel: 01726
829379 or email: office@stevedouble.org.uk
