This week organisations across Burnley and Padiham have been celebrating National Apprenticeship Week which highlights the achievements of apprentices from across the country.
Figures just released show that 700 young people took up apprentices last year in Burnley, adding to the 5.7 million apprenticeships that have been created across the country since 2010.
Local MP Antony Higginbotham, who has been a strong advocate for on-the-job learning and high quality apprenticeships said:
I know first-hand how transformative apprenticeships can be.
Apprenticeships are a brilliant way to enter the world of work. Delivering skills and vital industry knowledge all the while being paid is something I’m a big fan of.
I speak with apprentices in a wide variety of industries and know just how transformative they are to those undertaking them. Every one of these 700 new placements means another student building the skills and knowledge they need for a long and successful career.
For years there's been too much of a push for University - which whilst great for some, doesn't work for everyone. It’s why Government was right to change UCAS so it now advertises both university degrees and apprenticeships together – rightly putting them on an even footing and making sure young people have all the options presented to them.
With over 650 apprenticeship training courses now available, young people within the borough have a diverse range of career pathways available to ensure they learn the skills they need to succeed in a career they love.
Just this week, the Government announced they are introducing a new teaching apprenticeship that will offer a high-quality, alternative route for people to become qualified teachers.
This is on top of record levels of funding in skills and apprenticeships with investment to apprenticeships increasing to £2.7 billion by 2024-25, creating a world-leading skills system that is employer-focused, high quality, and fit for the future.
Commenting, Minister for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher Education, Robert Halfon MP, said:
Apprenticeship week is an opportunity to reflect on all that apprentices across the country have achieved and the immense contribution they continue to make to our economy.
Under the Conservatives and Rishi Sunak, our plan is working with over 5.7 million people starting apprenticeships since 2010 – enabling young people to climb the ladder of opportunity to good jobs and higher wages.
This progress would be destroyed by Labour who would take us back to square one by halving apprenticeships, risking the futures of thousands of young people across the country.
