Torbay MP Adrian Sanders has criticised the Government for not doing enough to promote apprenticeships.
Following the high profile launch of the National Apprenticeship Service in December, there has been a slow uptake by employers. Although over 50,000 potential employees have signed up nationwide, there are jobs for fewer than 1 in 8 of them.
In Torbay there are currently only 2 vacancies and in Exeter only 5.
South Devon College currently offers high quality career and apprenticeship advice but the Government has introduced a new scheme that has so far not incorporated apprenticeships already offered.
Adrian has called for the Government to take a more realistic approach rather than just create a top-down national database that serves little purpose. He will be pressing Ministers to support the creation of more posts and ensure that school-leavers are aware of the opportunities available to them.
Adrian said: "High profile campaigns and massive investments are all very well, but the Government needs to deliver on the ground, focusing resources in places like Torbay that desperately need investment. There is a lack of joined up thinking that needs to be addressed so that young people know exactly where to look and also so that resources aren’t needlessly wasted."
"What really needs to happen is for someone to take a clear lead in each area. In Torbay the College clearly has the skills to do this. What the Government needs to do is enable more young people to become apprentices. This means ensuring all aspects of the public sector provide entry level apprenticeships as a matter of course and that small businesses have the support and resources they need to take on trainees."
In response to Adrian’s concerns, Minister Lord Young of Norwood Green stated: "The Government aims to deliver over 250,000 apprenticeship starts and 190,000 successful completions by 2020 and apprenticeship funding to meet this challenge is planned to increase by almost a quarter between 2008-08 and 2009-10 to over £1billion."
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