Support for small business apprenticeships welcomed by local MP
Support for small business apprenticeships welcomed by local MP
North Cornwall’s Liberal Democrat MP, Dan Rogerson, has welcomed the Coalition Government’s announcement of measures to support more employers, especially small businesses, take on apprentices.
Apprenticeships have reached record highs in the academic year 2010/11, with more than 440,000 learners starting an apprenticeship last year, an increase of 50% compared to the year before.
In North Cornwall, around 800 learners took on an apprenticeship in 2010/11, an above-average increase of 59% from the previous year.
Liberal Democrats have long called for a significant increase in apprenticeships and Lib Dem Business Secretary, Vince Cable, has made this a priority. The Coalition Government announced more measures to support apprenticeships this week, including:
1. Offering employers with up to 50 employees an incentive payment of £1,500 to take on apprentices aged 16-24. This will encourage small employers to take on up to 20,000 apprentices.
2. Streamlining processes so that it takes just a month for an employer to advertise for an apprentice.
3. Ensuring that the National Apprenticeship Service better supports the needs of small employers – through more effectively targeted advice and guidance and helping training providers work more effectively with local SMEs.
Commenting, Dan Rogerson MP said:
“Liberal Democrats are determined to tackle youth unemployment and get the economy back on track. Apprenticeships are a huge part of that.
“Apprenticeships give people the skills and experience needed to succeed in the job market and create the skills necessary in the workforce. The record rise in learners taking them up is great news for Cornwall and the economy as a whole.
“Small businesses form the backbone of our economy and the announcements by Liberal Democrat Business Secretary, Vince Cable, are very welcome. They show the Coalition Government is determined to do the right thing and create sustainable growth, driven by local employers.”
Commenting further, Liberal Democrat Business Secretary, Vince Cable said:
“The apprenticeships programme is a success story, with record numbers of learners starting an apprenticeship this year. But I have listened to employers, and will go further to ensure that investment is targeted where impact is greatest, delivering the specific skills businesses need to drive growth.
“Apprenticeships are proven to boost the life chances of young people, and are a sound investment in our future competitiveness. So when times are tough, it’s right that we provide additional support to help the smallest firms meet training costs.
“We’ll cut no corners on quality. Apprenticeships will remain the gold standard for excellence in vocational training – but where red tape serves no purpose, we’ll strip it away.”
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Notes:
1. The Coalition Government is committed to creating an extra quarter of a million more apprenticeships by 2015.
2. The following measures to further strengthen the apprenticeships programme were announced today:
a. To encourage thousands of small firms that don’t currently hire apprentices to take on a young apprentices aged 16 to 24, the Government will offer employers with up to 50 employees an incentive payment of up to £1,500. This will support up to 20,000 new apprenticeships in 2012/13. An initial payment will be made two months after the individual has started their apprenticeship; the balance will be paid after the apprenticeship has been completed and the trainee has progressed into sustainable employment.
b. Processes will be simplified to make it quicker and easier for employers to take on an apprentice. The National Apprenticeships Service and training providers will be required to ensure that every employer is in a position to advertise a vacancy within one month of deciding to take on an apprentice. Health and safety requirements will be streamlined so that there are no additional demands on employers that already meet national standards.
c. There will be a renewed focus on targeting the programme where apprenticeships deliver greatest value – including on younger adults, new employees, higher level qualifications and particular sectors where they can make the greatest impact.
d. Apprenticeship providers will be required to offer training in English and Maths up to the standard of a good GCSE (level 2) for all apprenticeships.
3. A new review into the standards and quality of apprenticeships will be undertaken by a leading employer. Reporting in spring 2012, the review will help ensure Government works effectively with training providers and businesses to continually raise the standards of all apprenticeships, and that training keeps pace with the changing needs of industry.
