NEW APPRENTICESHIPS MEAN MORE YOUNG PEOPLE IN BEXHILL AND BATTLE GETTING THE SKILLS THEY NEED TO SUCCEED
13.10.15 For immediate release: Huw Merriman MP has welcomed new figures showing 650 new apprenticeships were started by people in the Bexhill and Battle constituency last year. In total 3,140 new apprenticeships have been started in Bexhill and Battle since 2010 – meaning more young people getting the skills they need for a successful and secure future.
The figures showed a strong rise in the number of apprenticeships started – up 8 percent in the South East in 2014/15 from the year before.
This means more young people getting the skills they need to get on in life and make the most of their talents – as they do locally at Bexhill College.
In total 2.4 million apprenticeships were started in England over the last parliament. And the Conservatives are committed to go even further over the next five years and deliver 3 million more by 2020. This is being funded by an apprenticeships levy on large employers, who will have control over funding to ensure it is giving young people the skills they will need to succeed.
Huw said:
“These figures are fantastic news. 650 new apprenticeships since 2010 means more young people in the Bexhill and Battle constituency getting the skills to succeed and get on in life – as they are at places like Bexhill College.
“Apprenticeships have been at the heart of our plan to deliver a more secure future for young people and as Conservatives we are committed to go even further over the next five years, with the commitment we made in our manifesto to deliver 3 million more high quality apprenticeships by 2020.
“We are giving young people proper training and the prospect of a better future. Millions of young people are getting a good start in life, learning a trade, and knowing the purpose and pride that comes with that.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors
• Over 2.4 million apprenticeships were started in the last parliament. (BIS, FE data library: apprenticeships, 18 November 2015, link).
• Apprenticeship starts last year were up 13.5 per cent on the year before. 499,900 apprenticeships were started in 2014/15, up 13.5 per cent on the year before. There was also record participation in apprenticeships, with the largest participation increases in Higher apprenticeships and with under 19s (BIS, FE data library: apprenticeships, 18 November 2015, link).
• 3 million more high quality apprenticeships by 2020. As committed to in the Conservative manifesto we will deliver three million high quality apprenticeships in this parliament. As announced in the Summer Budget this will be funded by a levy on large UK employers, who will be able to control how the funding is spent to ensure that young people are getting the skills that employers need (HM Treasury, Summer Budget 2015, 8 July 2015, link).
• Youth unemployment is down 83,000 over the past year – but there is more to do. Over the last year youth unemployment has seen a fall to 653,000. It was 939,000 in February to April 2010, so is down 285,000 since Labour were in power (ONS, Labour Market Statistics, 11 November 2015, link).
Region
2013/14
2014/15
% change FIGURE A
North East
30,500
35,200
15.5%
North West
71,700
79,300
10.7%
Yorkshire and The Humber
53,100
62,600
17.8%
East Midlands
40,300
48,100
19.3%
West Midlands
52,400
61,200
16.9%
East of England
40,400
45,800
13.3%
London
40,100
45,600
13.7%
South East
60,200
65,000
8.0%
South West
46,000
51,500
12.0%