This week was National Apprenticeship Week 2022, celebrating the positive impact apprenticeships bring to employers, individuals, and the economy.
Richard Fuller MP attended a virtual 'Ask the Apprentice' Panel event for MPs and variety of apprentices from a number of different organisations to showcase the work they are doing on apprenticeships. MPs heard from apprentices about their personal experiences of apprenticeships and how they can ensure they are at the forefront of the UK’s recovery from the pandemic, and to ask them questions on their experience of apprenticeship provision.
After the event, Richard said:
It was a really inspiring start to National Apprenticeship Week listening to the experiences of such a wide range of apprentices. There were such positive stories but also some important issues still to resolve: getting all schools to be as positive about apprenticeships as for university; enabling apprenticeships later in career and encouraging more partnerships with more businesses.
The event was a wonderful cross party group expertly chaired by Labour MP, Emma Hardy and Conservative MP, Jack Lopresti.
I am keen to encourage more local businesses to get behind initiatives such as the Supported Apprenticeship scheme organised by Central Bedfordshire Council which I visited some weeks ago.
For more information about apprenticeships visit apprenticeships.gov.uk.
To find out about which government training and employment schemes could be right for you, use the links below:
- For young people aged 14-19: gov.uk/get-the-jump
- For adults: gov.uk/skills-for-life
- For employers: gov.uk/skills-support
Training and employment schemes such as apprenticeships play a key part in the government’s Plan for Jobs, and are designed to protect, support, and create jobs.
The government is committed to supporting apprenticeships through innovation and increased funding. In September 2021 a new online service launched to make it easier for large employers that pay the Apprenticeship Levy to spend their funds, and for other employers to review and apply for funding. Government funding for apprenticeships is set to increase by £170 million to £2.7 billion in 2024-25.
