I welcome new figures showing that the number of apprenticeships in Fareham have risen significantly since 2010.
The news coincides with my announcement that I will be holding an Apprenticeships Fair on 12th February to encourage even more young people to take up the opportunity. The fair is being held in conjunction with a range of local Fareham employers who support the initiative.
The government figures show the number of people starting apprenticeships in the Fareham constituency more than doubled from 420 a year in 2009/10 to 880 in 2014/15. The figure has risen by 140 since the previous year, and in total over 4,000 people have started one in Fareham since 2010.
These figures are really good news. Over 4,000 new apprenticeships since 2010 means more young people in Fareham getting the skills get on in life. I’m a big fan of high-quality apprenticeships, and I’m very glad that the government is putting them at the heart of its skills strategy, with a commitment in our manifesto to deliver 3 million more by 2020.
Locally, I also want to help bring together leading local businesses with young people who have the potential to benefit from learning new skills. That’s why I am holding an Apprenticeships Fair next month, which will take place at Fareham College on 12th February. Apprenticeships are a unique and prestigious route into employment and I hope we can encourage even more school leavers to think about this option
We’ve already received support from a number of local firms, including ParCar Ltd, where I met some excellent apprentices recently, and I would be delighted to hear from any others who want to be part of this event. It is a very important issue, and I think this first Fair will make a real difference, and be something which can be repeated in future years.
The fair will take place at Fareham College on 12th February from 10am to 3pm, with local employers including Fareham Leisure Centre, engineering firm ParCar Ltd and logistics specialist Babcock International, along with recruitment companies Berry Recruitment and Reed. Further details can be found on a dedicated website for the event at http://www.farehamapprenticeships.co.uk/.
Taken from the Website of Suella Fernandes MP, for more information visit www.suellafernandes.co.uk