I’d like to draw attention to the ‘Fire It Up’ campaign, launched by the Department for Education, to raise awareness around the huge variety of apprenticeship options available for people of all ages and backgrounds and the positive impact we know they are having for both apprentices and employers.

Although employers report high satisfaction with apprenticeships, many parents and school advisors still don’t consider technical education as an equivalent option alongside a purely academic route.

The statistics paint a different picture – 90% of apprentices will get a job or go into further training after finishing an apprenticeship, with 72% finding sustained employment. Nearly three quarters (71%) of apprentices agreed that their chances of earning a higher wage in future had increased, and (80%) agreed that their chances of going on to higher levels of training had also increased. Employers report benefits such as improved productivity (78%), improved product or service quality (74%) as well as the new ideas apprentices bring to their organisation (65%). 83% would also recommend apprentices to other businesses.

The new campaign, which includes national TV, billboard and digital advertising will ensure that young people, re-trainers, those returning to work and their advisory networks, do not see the full-time academic route as the only valid route into, and to progress within, well paid, sought after careers.

I am a proud supporter of apprenticeships; having seen the value they bring to apprentices and the employers that hire them in our local area.

Please look at https://www.apprenticeships.gov.uk/ for more information and click here to find apprenticeship vacancies in your area.