Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (Transfer of Functions etc) Bill [Lords]

Anna Gelderd Excerpts

2nd reading
Tuesday 25th February 2025 Commons Chamber

[Anna Gelderd (South East Cornwall) (Lab)]

I welcome the Bill’s commitment to broadening educational opportunities and skills training, which is so urgently needed. As one of those young people who undertook my qualifications in the early 2000s, I assure the right hon. Member for East Hampshire (Damian Hinds) that they were rigorous and got me where I am today.

Areas such as South East Cornwall have felt forgotten and left behind, cut off from the opportunities of economic growth in other parts of the UK. Labour understands the link between an individual’s education and training and the wider economic prosperity of our country. The Bill is an example of how we are rebuilding the country from the ground up, focusing on our young people. Where university or academic routes are not the right fit, apprenticeships offer vital, valuable alternatives not only for those enrolled, but for training providers, local businesses and the economy.

Where someone is born and the circumstances in which they grow up should not limit where they go or what they achieve. This mission-driven Labour Government are making education a priority. It is a far cry from the previous Government, which saw apprenticeships collapsing, businesses pleading for change and our young people paying the price. In South East Cornwall, local businesses lead by example. Wildanet, a home-grown company from Liskeard, is doing fantastic work to improve digital connectivity across Cornwall. It is investing in more than just cables and infrastructure. It is investing in our local people through training schemes that create meaningful opportunities for local residents and build the skills that directly benefit my community.

During National Apprenticeship Week last week, I had the privilege of attending Wildanet’s apprenticeship graduation ceremony. Celebrating the achievements of our young people was a reminder of what is possible when we support them through businesses such as Wildanet and through the Bill. Working in partnership with Truro and Penwith College, Wildanet’s ground-breaking apprenticeship scheme is a key part of the company’s DNA, creating new jobs and training people locally. It is vital that such opportunities in rural communities continue to build momentum, and that is what the Bill will deliver.

The Bill is a step in the right direction. I want to highlight the brilliant work of Truro and Penwith College, Cornwall’s only expert apprenticeship provider and one of just five further education colleges in the UK that have been awarded this status by the Department for Education. The college’s staff, many of whom are resident in South East Cornwall, play a crucial role in shaping our local workforce and improving opportunities. Apprenticeship courses aligned with the Government’s mission and key industries will help people secure reliable, high-quality employment after completing their training.

In Cornwall, where incomes remain about 20% below the national average, this investment in skills and future-proofed jobs is essential. By strengthening our apprenticeships system, we can equip the next generation while also supporting local businesses such as Wildanet.

Cornwall was a driving force in Britain’s first industrial revolution. With the right foundations, we can once again lead the industries of the future, whether in renewable energy, marine technology or digital infrastructure. The first step is building those foundations.