The MP for Copeland has been commended by the Minister for Apprenticeships and Skills for her efforts to ensure youngsters in the area are able to access the ‘best opportunities available’.
It comes just days before Trudy Harrison MP hosts her second skills fair at the Solway Hall in Whitehaven on Thursday between 3pm and 7pm.
Continuing her pledge to ensure a bright future for her constituency’s young people, Mrs Harrison’s skills fair will see local employers, career professionals and training providers representing a broad range of trades come together to help give school students and job seekers some helpful career guidance.
Companies and organisations including the Royal Marines, Cumberland Building Society, Copeland Borough Council and many more will be showcasing their career and apprenticeship opportunities at the fair.
Apprenticeships Minister, Anne Milton MP said: “I know how passionate Trudy is in her role as an apprenticeship ambassador in making sure that the young people across her constituency have the best opportunities available to them after leaving school. I am thrilled to hear about the skills fair which she is hosting again this year.
“There has never been a better time for young people to start an apprenticeship, with 619,000 start-ups in the North West alone since 2010.
“Events such as this are a great way for young people to find out more about the existing opportunities out there.”
Mrs Harrison, said: “As a mother of four daughters, I understand that preparing for your future can be a daunting time, so I am really looking forward to the day and supporting people of all ages looking for some career inspiration.
“Once again I would like to thank the fair’s sponsors, Morgan Sindall and NNL for making is possible.”
Last week, Mrs Harrison welcomed the Chancellor’s Autumn Budget following the Government’s pledge to introduce a package of reforms to strengthen the role of employers in apprenticeship programmes.
It was announced that £450 million will be made available to enable levy paying employers to transfer up to 25 per cent of their funds to pay for apprenticeship training in their supply chains, as well as providing up to £240 million to halve the co-investment rate for apprenticeship training to five per cent.
In addition, £5 million will be granted to the Institute for Apprenticeships and National Apprenticeship Service in 2019-20, to identify gaps in the training provider market and increase the number of employer-designed apprenticeship standards available to employers.
All new apprentices will start on these new, higher-quality courses from September 2020.
Mrs Harrison, added: “As one of the Government’s Apprenticeship Ambassadors, I absolutely welcome the Chancellor’s recent Budget announcement to further reform apprenticeships to better support employers – helping to continue the legacy of world class skills.”
Last year more than 45 local companies and businesses including Storey Homes, Sellafield Ltd and NNL exhibited their work to hundreds of school pupils and job seekers at Mrs Harrison’s free to attend skills fair.
