WARRINGTON North MP Helen Jones has condemned the Coalition government in a heated Westminster debate on the shortage of quality apprenticeships.
During National Apprenticeship Week, Labour tabled a motion in Parliament pressing the government to use public procurement to create apprenticeships by requiring firms that win contracts of more than £1 million to offer apprenticeships as recommended by the cross-party BIS Select Committee.
In Manchester for example, the Labour Council has boosted apprenticeship numbers by developing strategies to use procurement contracts to create apprenticeship opportunities for young people locally.
Ms Jones (pictured) said: “”With almost one million young people aged 16-24 out of work, it is clear the government needs to do more to help firms create the apprenticeship opportunities young people desperately need.
“That’s why we’re calling on the government to back our proposals to use public procurement to boost apprenticeship numbers so that young people in Warrington North are given the chance they need to succeed in their future careers.
“In the last year apprenticeships in the North West are down by 2,240. Young people in our region are being let down by the Tory/Lib Dem Government.
“The Tories would rather prioritise tax cuts for millionaires instead of investing in the futures of our young people and that tells you all you need to know about this Tory/Lib Dem government.”
MP hits out over apprenticeships
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Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
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Give it a rest woman. The Government AND her local Labour Council, are “Damned if they do, and Damned if they don’t”. Time for a new tune that is positive and constructive.
Helen Jones is right to highlight the paucity of apprenticeships on offer. There was a time, not that long ago, when most large and several medium sized companies had apprenticeship schemes to train and educate young people. Now such schemes are few and far between. Most companies now depend on others to bear the costs of training young people during their early years at work and then poach them after they are trained.
Yet she abstained in the Workfare vote yesterday instead of rebelling and voting it down. Shows how committed she is to this, really.