Local MP, Anne Milton, has pledged her support for the Construction Industry Training Board’s (CITB) I’m Backing Apprenticeships campaign alongside representatives from construction firms and apprentices.
Construction apprenticeships are essential to meeting the sector’s skills needs after the government’s announcement of over 220,000 new construction jobs in the next five years. Speakers at the event included Skills Minister Nick Boles and CITB Chairman James Wates.
The campaign has been launched in response to surveys for CITB. A ComRes survey revealed that 80% of MPs agree that ‘full employment’ cannot be achieved without apprenticeships, while a report by Demos showed that most of the general public (72%) would prefer their children to go to university instead. CITB is working to improve and increase the number of construction apprenticeships through a range of industry-focused initiatives, including making CITB funding easier and faster for employers to access and a new careers web portal for those interested in joining construction.
Anne said: "It is always a pleasure to attend any event that supports apprenticeships and the employers that are involved. There are incredibly valuable opportunities in the construction industry and it’s great to have an opportunity to celebrate the hard work that everyone is putting in to increase the number available. I certainly will always do all I can to promote apprenticeships to both employers and to schools so everyone is aware of the very valuable opportunities that exist for young people."