The government is committed to making 3 million apprenticeships over the next parliament and I am very keen to make sure that every young person that wants one in Portsmouth finds one. Recently, I had Nick Boles MP, Minister for Business, Innovation and Skills visiting, he has specific responsibility for apprenticeships. There are plenty of examples of companies and organisations taking on apprentices in Portsmouth and we have several colleges providing the education part of the schemes. I took Nick to Portsmouth College, a fantastic sixth form college with excellent academic results and one that has taken on high quality apprenticeship schemes too. Apprenticeships are a good alternative to university and many companies, e.g. accountancy, banking, marketing and others, are taking on young people and training them up. Often, this can lead to a degree in the future, it is an excellent way of following a career path.
Nick then visited the Cathedral Innovation Centre which has just taken on 3 apprentices. The Cathedral Innovation Centre, the brainchild of Francis Davis, has been set up to provide space for start up businesses and Third Sector organisations in spare office capacity in cathedrals. Cathedral House in Old Portsmouth, alongside the cathedral is full of hot desking, rented offices and is very productive. It is a very good example of organisations getting together and helping each other through networking and practical help. I have met a number of women who use the space who had been nominated for Venus Awards, the ‘working women’s Oscars’. This makes a difference to people starting up small businesses and I hope that many of them will take on apprentices too.