Yesterday I spoke in a Westminster Hall Debate entitled 'Government support for Apprenticeships'. There were 860 people starting an apprenticeship in the last year in my Meon Valley constituency and I have met many of them in my work with businesses of all sizes. I am always impressed by their drive and commitment, and I want more young people to access this career route. My big concern is that we ensure that the apprenticeship levy is spent in the right way, and that smaller companies can benefit. We want businesses to see training and apprenticeships as an investment and not a cost.
I am pleased at the support from the government for apprenticeships, with initiatives like the DfE’s Unit for Future Skills which has started to analyse and share the data around skills gaps and opportunities.
I hope the support for STEM careers in particular will be boosted by for a new UTC in the Solent region. I know the DfE is looking at this at present with a bid from UTC Portsmouth for a new UTC in Southampton. I currently have many students in Meon Valley looking for a UTC place, and it is excellence of the UTC in Portsmouth and its partnership with industry which drives the demand. We need more of this kind of capacity for young people to open up careers for them and to fill the gaps in skills employers have.
