56% increase in apprenticeships in South Cambs – "what great news," says Andrew Lansley.

Sasha Henry - apprentice hairdresser.


"The Coalition Government has delivered a record number of apprenticeships in England, with half a million people starting an apprenticeship last year," says Andrew Lansley, MP for South Cambridgeshire and Leader of the House of Commons.

"Thanks to the Government’s investment, 142 more young people in England are starting an apprenticeship every day.

"And here in South Cambridgeshire, the great news is the significant increase in the number of apprenticeships locally.

  • In the last year, 560 people have began an apprenticeship.
  • That’s an increase of 200 apprentices compared to Labour’s last year in power.
  • The number of people starting an apprenticeship has increased by 56%.


“It shows that we really are getting behind people who work hard and want to get on in life – apprenticeships are a tremendous way to help young men and women acquire the practical skills they need to make a better future for themselves.

“And let's not forget that Cambridge is a high-tech economy with a constant demand for technical skills – which is why I'm so pleased to see that In South Cambridgeshire alone so many young people have started an apprenticeship.  As our figures above show there are more people benefiting from an apprenticeship now, thanks to the work of this Government, than when Labour was in power."

Sasha Henry, who lives in Bourn, was an apprentice hairdresser – we carried a news item about her last April.  Her advice to anyone thinking about becoming an apprentice is:

  • Get a proper contract so that you are not taken advantage of.
  • Keep at it – you have good weeks and bad weeks, but your commitment will show to any future employer.
  • If possible, try it out as a part-time job first to get a feel for the job.
  • www.apprenticeships.org.uk is a good website.


A further word of advice from Sasha was "You have to go out there and do something about it.  It doesn’t come to you, you have to look.”

“I encourage everyone to think about whether they can benefit from the many apprenticeship opportunities that are now available," adds Andrew.  "It's such a great way to earn and learn sets of skills that will benefit you throughout their lives.”

So oftern missing from news stories are the figures and detail behind the headline – not so on this occasion; the official statistics on the number of apprenticeships were published by the Data Service on 11 October 2012 under the heading The Data Service, Quarterly Statistical First Release: Post-16 Education & Skills: Learner Participation, Outcomes and Level of Highest Qualification Held.

The national picture – the release includes provisional statistics for the academic year 2011-12 for England. They show:

  • A record half a million people started an apprenticeship last year. 502,500 people in England started an apprenticeship in 2011-12. This is a record number and the first time ever that more than half a million people have started an apprenticeship in one year.
  • An 80% increase in apprenticeships under this Government. 222,800 more people started an apprenticeship in 2011-12 compared to 2009-10, Labour’s last year in power. This represents an 80% increase in the number of people starting an apprenticeship under the Coalition.
  • 142 more young apprentices every single day. The number of people aged under 25 starting an apprenticeship increased by 52,000 between 2009-10 and 2011-12. This is equivalent to an extra 142 young apprentices every day.
  • Advanced and Higher apprenticeships see the biggest increases. More than double the number of people are now starting Advanced and Higher apprenticeships. Between 2009-10 and 2011-12, the number of people starting an Advanced apprenticeship increased by 105%, while the number starting a Higher (or degree-level) apprenticeship increased by 133%.


Although these provisional statistics are subject to revision, the official release states that ‘revisions are typically upward’.
 
What the Government is doing

  • Investing in more apprenticeships. Over the lifetime of this parliament, we will fund 250,000 more apprenticeships than the last government planned (Hansard, 23 March 2011, Col. 961).
  • Cash bonuses for small companies taking on young apprentices. We are offering employers with 50 employees or fewer up to £1,500 for taking on an apprentice aged between 16 and 24. This will support up to 40,000 new apprenticeships in 2012/13 (BIS Press Release, 7 February 2012).
  • Investing in degree-level apprenticeships. At the moment, there aren’t enough opportunities for progression to further learning for apprentices. That is why we have established a £25 million Higher Apprenticeships Fund, to support up to 10,000 degree-level apprenticeships in areas such as aerospace and renewable energy technologies (BIS Press Release, 22 July 2011).
  • Making it quicker and easier for employers to take on an apprentice. The National Apprenticeships Service and training providers will be required to ensure that every employer is able to advertise a vacancy within one month of deciding to take on an apprentice (BIS Press Release, 16 November 2011).
  • Targeting apprenticeships where they are needed. We are renewing the programme’s focus on younger adults, new employees, higher level qualifications and particular sectors where apprenticeships can make the greatest impact (BIS Press Release, 16 November 2011).
  • Equipping apprentices with basic skills. Apprenticeship providers are now required to offer all apprentices teaching in English and Maths up to the standard of a good GCSE (BIS Press Release, 16 November 2011).
  • Cutting bureaucracy. Coalition measures to cut red tape for employers taking on apprentices include: piloting a ‘payment by outcomes’ system to eliminate a number of data returns and audit requirements; providing an online plain-English toolkit for employers; streamlining contracting arrangements; committing to no ‘in year’ changes to contracting arrangements, introducing a more proportionate approach to audit and inspection, reducing preparation time for employers; greater use of electronic information to reduce paperwork; and a more streamlined certification process (BIS Press Release, 6 September 2011).


You can contact Andrew at his constituency office

      Andrew Lansley CBE MP
      153 St Neots Road
      Hardwick
      Cambridge
      CB23 7QJ

            T  01954 212 707
            E  lansleya@parliament.uk

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