Employers get 'green' light to design own apprentices

21st November 2011

Prime Minister, David Cameron, during a visit to open a new production centre at Mclarens last week (Thursday 17 November 2011), announced new funding has been made available that means employers can design apprenticeship schemes they want."

To read the PM's speech, click this link

Apprenticeships ‘moving in the right direction’ says Cable

17th November 2011

Vince Cable, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills highlighted the contribution of apprenticeships to offering better prospects for those embarking on them, in a speech to the AoC conference today (17 November 2011)

He said that 2009 and 2010, ":almost 450,000 people embarked on programmes offering new training, new work, better prospects - with numbers up for all age ranges and at all levels."

Visit the BIS website to see the text of his speech

House of Commons' News

  • An Early Day Motion to support National Apprenticeships Week has been put to the House of Commons this week.
    See Hansard link
  • Andrew Selous MP asked Sir George Young MP, leader of the Commons if he could arrange a debate so that the Government ‘can expand the fantastic network of university technical colleges across our country.’
    Read Hansard Report
  • The importance of ‘high-quality and impartial careers guidance’ was raised during oral questions to Education Ministers yesterday (Monday 21 November 2011). Gordon Henderson MP (Sittingbourne and Sheppey) said it was ‘vital’ that the National Careers Service was ‘used effectively to promote vocational training.’
    Read Hansard Report
  • During a recent debate in the Commons, to consider Lords amendments to the Education Bill (now the Education Act 2011), shadow Education Secretary, Stephen Twigg, said he would like apprenticeships to become the gold standard of vocational education.’ He also referred to his attendance at the recent Edge Annual Lecture.
    Read Hansard Report
  • In an adjournment debate held in the Commons Chamber on 2 November 2011, Robert Halfon, MP for Harlow described University Technical Colleges as a ‘profound reform of our school system.’
    Read Hansard report
  • Education oral questions to Ministers in the Commons yesterday included interest from MPs on UTCs, a technical baccalaureate, Worldskills and vocational routes.
    Read Hansard report

House of Lords' News

  • In a written answer, Baroness Wilcox , the junior business, innovation and skills minister in the House of Lords, said that the government ‘are keen to see apprenticeships offer a route into, and where appropriate an alternative to, higher education.’
    Read Hansard Report
  • The House of Lords yesterday (Tuesday, November 29th, 2011) debated youth unemployment and the importance of attracting more young people into apprenticeship programmes.
    Read Hansard Report
  • Education Minister, Lord Hill of Lord Hill of Oareford has told the House of Lords that 413,000 16 to 17 year-olds were in full-time education studying vocational qualifications at the end of 2010.
    Read Hansard link
  • Lord Baker, chairman of Edge, has welcomed the Government response to the Wolf Review, saying it is ‘clearly trying to find a solution to dramatically improve the practical, skilled and high-quality training of technicians and engineers, alongside higher academic education.
    Read Hansard Link
  • Baroness Wall of Barnet secured a major debate in the House of Lords last October, when the importance of maintaining and increasing apprenticeships in both the public and private sectors was raised.
    Read Hansard transcript