As part of ‘National Apprenticeship week’, I was delighted to meet, Timothy, an apprentice from the local hospitality industry in Mid Sussex, in Westminster at a showcase of successes and to join others as part of this event as DWP Minister with responsibility for social mobility and youth. It was great to hear about their experience and skills which have been learnt and their hopes for the future. I’m delighted the Government meanwhile are launching plans to allow young people to use UCAS to search and apply for apprenticeships alongside degrees from 2024. This will give students a better understanding of the options available to enable them to make informed choices and go on to have successful careers. If you are looking for an apprenticeship visit: https://www.gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship
The building of the 900-pupil secondary school on the new Brookleigh homes site, has taken a key step forward with the engagement of a contractor and work commencing later this year. I’m very pleased this vital and much needed infrastructure is being built alongside the new homes and the design of this school is, importantly, net carbon-zero.
The Government is rightly cracking down on the unfair treatment of energy users. Energy suppliers have been requested to voluntarily stop the outrageous practice of forced prepayment switching as the answer to households struggling to pay bills and to make a greater effort to help those most vulnerable.
Its HIV National Testing Week and it’s important we test and tackle stigma – if you’re over sixteen, you can choose either a lab test (with optional syphilis test) with results sent by text, or a rapid self-test that you can do at home. Tests arrive in plain packaging and fit through a letterbox. If a positive or ‘reactive’ result is given, then a confirmatory test in a sexual health clinic is necessary to make sure the result is correct.
Frustrations continue to run high with ongoing roadworks locally, I understand first-hand the impact it has on daily life and will continue to monitor these works and feed in local dissatisfaction to WSCC, Ministers and those running the works.