STUNELL PRAISES STOCKPORT APPRENTICESHIP SUCCESS IN PARLIAMENT
Andrew Stunell MP praised Stockport's apprenticeship success in Parliament this week, and persuaded the Minister to meet him to discuss the need to do more to prepare young people for apprenticeships.
Commenting, Sir Andrew said -
"Employers have worked very well with the Council to provide apprenticeships, with over 800 starting last year. This year the picture is just as good, meaning many young people have a realistic option of learning a career, and the companies get the benefit of their energy and ideas.
"But my challenge to the Minister is to copy the best practice of schools like Werneth High that are providing pre-apprenticeship training to younger pupils so that they are ready to take up the responsibility of a full apprenticeship at 16 or 18. He's agreed to a meeting, and I'm hoping we can bring providers together to push things forward."
In Stockport Andrew's 2013 campaign to secure 100 apprenticeships in 100 days was a resounding success (actually securing 203!), the UK's first Apprenticeship store was opened in the centre of Stockport to help young people into work, the Council launched another 50 Stockport apprenticeships in 50 days campaign and Andrew & Lisa Smart hired their very own apprentice, Conor, in their Romiley office.
Sir Andrew visited Werneth School last year to see their Young Apprentice Placement Scheme in action which aims to prepare young people for apprenticeships once they have finished school.
Commenting further Andrew said -
"Stockport has done so well with increasing the amount of apprenticeships for our young people already, but often employers are worried that some young people haven't got the basic skills and work ethic needed to make a start. Werneth's imaginative scheme gives a young person the opportunity to get out of school and experience the world of work and study first hand. It is great for them, and already proving its worth, with young people going on to serious vocational training when they leave school. I'd like to see schemes just like this being rolled out all over Stockport to help more of our young people into work, this is why I pressed the Minister on this this week."
To see what Sir Andrew said in Parliament on Stockport's Apprenticeship success click on the following link -
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2014-10-27b.1.3#g1.4
If you're an employer interested in taking on an apprentice, or a young person wanting to secure an apprenticeship, ring Alison Cresswell at the Council on 0161 474 2350 or visit -
http://www.stockport.gov.uk/services/education/educationtrainingandemployment/apprenticeships/