Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Department for Education

Oral Answers to Questions

Andrew Gwynne Excerpts
Monday 16th June 2014

(9 years, 10 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Matt Hancock Portrait Matthew Hancock
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More than ever, companies are involved in delivering apprentices and having apprentices. Colleges are increasingly providing the training for apprenticeships, but it is also important that we raise quality by ensuring that employers write the training that is required for young people to learn the skills necessary to get a good job.

Andrew Gwynne Portrait Andrew Gwynne (Denton and Reddish) (Lab)
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Sadly, some young people and their parents still see apprenticeships very much as an easy option, so what are the Government doing to better sell the benefits of apprenticeships, and to increase the number of higher and advanced-level apprenticeships, as an alternative pathway to that provided by degrees?

Matt Hancock Portrait Matthew Hancock
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Our vision is that when young people leave school or college, they have the opportunity to go to university or into a high-quality apprenticeship. We have a programme of reform to increase the quality of apprenticeships, including offering more English and maths and a minimum duration. Undoubtedly, there is more to do to persuade people that apprenticeships are of high quality and that apprenticeships can get them anywhere.