It’s always fun to meet people who are enthusiastic, but I was especially impressed by the passion of the local young people I met during last week’s National Apprenticeship Week.
Last week I spent time with local apprentices from the aerospace, defence and hospitality industries, including QinetiQ, BAE Systems, Greene King and Marstons.
From talking to them, it’s clear that an apprenticeship is not just a sensible route into paid employment, but also a way to get excellent qualifications and a rewarding, well-paid career. They ‘earn while they learn’, gaining on the job experience as well as practical and academic qualifications designed to develop their skills and boost their employability.
The statistics show that an apprentice typically experiences an average salary increase of £12,000 after completing their course. And, there’s a huge array of qualifications available, rising to Level 7 which is equivalent to a Masters’ Degree.
While traditionally associated with blue collar jobs like construction and engineering, apprenticeships are widely available in white collar occupations too. Among the QinetiQ apprentices, for example, there were many progressing their interests in science, technology and in business.
I was proud to have set up the construction apprenticeship programme at Battersea Power Station while I worked there. It gave me first-hand experience of how these opportunities can transform young people’s lives while also bringing talent and energy into a company.
So, I wasn’t surprised to find that the feedback from employers was overwhelmingly positive. Simply put, by recruiting apprentices, firms get a workforce equipped with the exact skills they need, which is just good business sense. In fact, the evidence suggests that companies investing in management apprenticeships have added £106 million in additional revenues.
What’s important for me is that there are businesses in this area looking to recruit local young people right now. Over and above the apprenticeships they offer, there are a range of entry-level opportunities. One example is the Professional Certificate in Airport Operations, which is an eight-week course, split between the Farnborough College of Technology and Farnborough Airport where trainees get hands-on learning across different operational departments. It would be a perfect introduction to anyone interested in the rapidly expanding aviation industry.
Naturally, I was very pleased to hear employers welcome the new Labour government’s reforms to the apprenticeship system, particularly the removal of mandatory qualifications for apprentices over the age of 19, and the move to reduce the minimum duration of apprenticeships for learners with substantial prior experience.
These reforms are part of a broader strategy to revitalise the apprenticeship system, making it more responsive to the needs of employers and learners alike. Importantly, they will increase the number of qualified apprentices in the economy’s key growth sectors too.
By bringing forward these changes, Labour aims to empower young people, bridge our economy’s skills gaps, and drive the sustainable economic growth that places like Aldershot and Farnborough urgently need.
