National Apprenticeship Week 2023: 6th – 12th February
Emerging from the pandemic, it is skills and technical education that will be a pivotal catalyst for local economic growth and productivity, as well as creating opportunities people need to progress at work.
With over 5.2 million apprenticeship starts since May 2010. NAW 2023 provides an opportunity to grow this number by boosting awareness of the positive impact apprenticeships have on business success and individual achievements.
The theme for NAW 2023 is ‘Skills for Life’ – it is vital that high-quality apprenticeships help everyone to improve their career prospects, even if that involves undertaking a new and totally different job choice at any age. It also emphasises the importance of lifelong learning to access new roles in the economy.
Apprenticeships are such a vibrant cross-party topic. As MPs, we want our country to be seen as a dynamic education and skills nation. Apprenticeships provide a ‘Ladder of opportunity’. This ensures a focus on:
• Careers empowerment. Careers information must have an extensive focus in schools and colleges – and include work experience and skills-based options. People need comprehensive advice to make informed decisions on their futures.
• Apprenticeships and skills employers need. High-quality education and training will equip young people and adults with skills for jobs to ignite the economy.
• High-quality qualifications. Employers now design the new apprenticeship Standards (over 650 in total) to ensure they are rigorous, challenging, and valued.
• Lifelong learning. We need to give people the opportunity to train, retrain, and upskill throughout their lives to respond to the changing demands of businesses.
• Job security and prosperity. Making sure skills education and training supports people into secure, sustained, and well-paid employment.
There are two main focuses. The first is looks at opportunities and social justice. Apprenticeships are for everyone because talent is not defined by either geography or heritage. Social justice equates to people from all our communities taking advantage of Degree apprenticeships and rising to the top of their professions.
The second is about strengthening Higher and Further Education. To ensure that a range of choices are consistently offered, leading to respected qualifications and good jobs. This is why I am delighted that the Government are launching plans to allow young people to use UCAS to search and apply for apprenticeships alongside degrees. This will give them a better understanding of all the options available to enable them to make informed choices and go on to have successful careers. From 2024, students will be able to apply for apprenticeships through UCAS alongside an undergraduate degree application.
To look for an apprenticeship opportunity today visit: https://www.gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship