Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she is taking steps with Cabinet colleagues to support collaboration between local businesses and schools on work experience and apprenticeship placements in rural areas.

The department wants to support all young people to access education and training opportunities, to break down the barriers to opportunity and support economic growth.

That is why young people in rural areas can benefit from the high quality training that apprenticeships offer. Apprentices in England can choose from apprenticeships in a wide range of sectors including agriculture, environmental and animal care, engineering and manufacturing, and business and administration. The department is introducing new foundation apprenticeships, a pre-apprenticeship training offer, that will give more young people a foot in the door and support clear pathways into work-based training and employment.

The department is also taking steps towards introducing two weeks’ worth of high quality work experience to all young people, irrespective of their background. This will open doors to a wider range of employers and businesses and give young people a greater insight into the labour market.

The department recognises that young people need support to capitalise on these workplace experiences, reflect on what they have learned and set future career goals. The department will therefore train 1,000 new careers advisers so that young people can get the expert advice they need.