Robin Walker's Westminster Diary - The Worcester Observer

Robin Walker's Westminster Diary

Worcester Editorial 15th Feb, 2020   0

NATIONAL Apprenticeship Week was a valuable opportunity to meet apprentices, hear how employers benefit from having them and how the apprenticeship brand has changed over the years.

What we have seen over the last ten years is apprenticeship quality has risen with longer periods of study, better qualifications, more real exposure to work and better pay whilst the number and range of employers has diversified.

It was exciting to meet apprentices from the early years sector, financial services and housing, as well as to celebrate the more traditional success of engineering apprenticeships with the Hereford and Worcester Group Training Association attending an awards ceremony in Parliament.

Some of Worcester’s biggest businesses like Worcester Bosch and SJL Insurance are led by former apprentices.




One of the things I have really noticed change over the years is the attitude of schools to apprenticeships and it is great to see many of Worcester’s high schools hosting careers events and apprenticeship fairs during the week.

We are the first county in the country in which every secondary school has a dedicated careers adviser linked up to the careers hub and this has been a great way of connecting schools and businesses to better understand the opportunities that apprenticeships can offer.


Of course it will be the case that many students at Worcester schools will benefit from going to University, but it is good that for those who want to go straight to work or who want more practical on the job training, the apprenticeship route provides a respected and potentially lucrative alternative.

In Parliament over the last few weeks we have passed legislation to lock in £33bllion over five years for the NHS, along with a police settlement which will see the West Mercia Police able to recruit more officers and a local government settlement which will support more investment in social care.

Ahead of the budget, I have submitted proposals for additional investment in our hospital, in our railways and in schools, particularly special needs schools, for the Chancellor to consider.

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