Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if the Government will take steps to implement the recommendations made in the report entitled Management 2020 by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Management and the Chartered Management Institute.

The Government recognise the value of young people having a hands-on experience of enterprise in schools, colleges and universities.

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has introduced a number of measures to help inspire young people and open up opportunities for future careers. For example, seed funding the launch of a new enterprise competition in primary schools, 'Fiver', in partnership with Young Enterprise and Virgin Money.

Last year we asked Lord Young, the Prime Minister's advisor on enterprise, to look at what more could be done. His report, Enterprise for All, was published in June 2014 and makes a number of recommendations across all education sectors to encourage a lifelong experience of enterprise. The Government welcomed the report and will be responding in full this autumn.

We are also recognising the excellent practice that already exists. For example, the Small Business Charter was set up this year to recognise business schools that work with students and local small businesses to promote enterprise.

In addition, See Inside Manufacturing is a partnership between BIS and industry sectors that aims to inspire young people (aged 11-19 years) into manufacturing by dispelling outdated ideas of the industry, providing a more accurate picture of career prospects, and helping young people understand what they need to succeed in manufacturing. It does this by encouraging manufacturing businesses to open their doors and give students the chance to “see behind the scenes” of a modern manufacturing company. Last year 6,300 young people and their teachers attended events up and down the country, taking part in over 175 visits and events throughout the UK.

Furthermore, the Government’s ambitious programme of reform for adult vocational education in England is based on instilling rigour in qualifications, teaching and testing and ensuring that skills provision is more responsive to the needs of employers and learners. As part of our reform of apprenticeships, new apprenticeship standards will be expected to meet professional registration requirements in sectors where these exist (for example, in engineering, science and accountancy). This will support the drive to improve the quality of apprenticeships and ensure that apprentices are trained to the level of professional competence required by employers and the sector they work in.