The Apprentice

Recently I was appointed to serve as Parliamentary Private Secretary (or PPS) to John Hayes MP, Minister for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning who in turn serves under Vince Cable.

A PPS is the most junior of the appointed roles associated with Government but it does mean shadowing a minister and having access to a government department. I see it as a real opportunity to help drive positive change.

One area I intend to focus on is apprenticeships. For far too long vocational training has been seen as a second fiddle to more academic education. This has held back the development of skills — meaning a scarcity of home-grown electricians, plumbers and construction workers along with a failure to provide many young people, who might not be attracted by university, with the higher level skills needed in business.

And quality apprenticeships matter not just to individuals (who increase their earnings and improve their job security) but to our economy too — with apprenticeships providing the skills that underpin export growth and high-end value-added manufacturing.

The record so far is good. Over the last year apprenticeship starts have increased by 50% and that growth is not just amongst under 19s (where growth will help in reducing youth unemployment) but also amongst 19 to 24s and those who are 25-plus where re-skilling is often the focus — indeed there has been a particularly strong and encouraging growth in level 3 apprenticeships (which are essentially A level equivalent) and also in the higher level 'degree-equivalent' apprenticeships too. In aggregate, over 442,000 people have started as a new apprentice in the last year.

In a sense as John Hayes' new PPS I have just joined their number — I have a great deal to learn in my new role but I am relishing the challenge.