Message
from the Deputy Prime Minister to mark National Apprenticeship Week 2014
Over the past few years, I’ve
been lucky enough to see for myself the fantastic work of talented apprentices
across our country. Every one of these hard-working young people - whether they
are working for leading business like Airbus, National Express and Rolls Royce
or smaller local companies - are helping their employers to succeed and grow.
National Apprenticeship Week is a
chance for us to celebrate their achievements. It’s also a valuable opportunity
for us to encourage more young people and businesses to gain from the benefits
high-quality apprenticeships offer.
The numbers, they speak for
themselves. Research by the National Apprenticeship Service shows that, on
average, a fully trained apprentice can help businesses generate an extra ￡200
every week. Employers also tell us they find apprentices more employable than
job applicants with other qualifications.
And that’s why the Coalition
government is creating record numbers of new apprenticeships, and currently
over 100,000 employers are offering apprenticeships in more than 200,000
locations. I want to see that figure double.
So if you’re a business that is
interested in taking on a new apprentice, please visit http://apprenticeships.org.uk/
to find our more. Young people, who want to earn while they learn on the job,
can also check out the thousands of apprenticeships currently available.
“In addition, you can also find
out more about valuable traineeships. These education and training programmes,
which include a work placement, focus on giving young people the skills and
experience employers want. They can also be incredibly useful in helping you to
compete for an apprenticeship or other jobs.
So, if you’re interested, now is
the time to take that step.
Thank you to all those
organisations that are supporting National Apprenticeship Week by arranging
events and other activities. Most importantly I want to thank all those
apprentices and businesses working to help Britain’s economy thrive. Together,
you’re helping to inspire others to get involved and reap the rewards that an
apprenticeship brings. |
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