Julian Knight, the MP for Solihull, has welcomed the news that 910 young people have started apprenticeships in our town this year – joining a total of 4,250 who have found new opportunities with local employers since 2010.
During the election Julian promised to create one thousand new apprenticeships during his first year – and the latest figures show that we’re well on the way.
Funded in part by a levy on large employers, this is part of a wider story of falling youth unemployment and broader opportunities for young people.
Across the West Midlands 61,200 new apprenticeships were started in the 2014/15 year, up from 52,400 for the year before, and over the last Parliament more than 2.4 million new apprentices started in England. Three million more are predicted by 2020.
In response to the news, Julian Knight said:
“I am very pleased to see such strong growth in apprenticeships in our town, our region, and across England. This Government is determined to give young people the experience they need and the opportunities they deserve to fulfil their ambitions and get ahead in life.
“The expansion of apprenticeships also represents a rebalancing of the Government’s approach towards young people since 2010, with proper weight and respect given to vocational skills and practical work experience alongside the university alternative.”