Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps she is taking to encourage (a) small retail and hospitality and (b) other small business to (i) take on apprentices and (ii) work as a consortium to support an apprentice.

Government is increasing investment in apprenticeships to £2.7 billion by 2024/25. This will support apprenticeships across all employers, including SMEs where we continue to pay at least 95% of their training costs. The Department for Education has removed the limit of funding 10 apprentices a year in SMEs and made it easier to register to take on an apprentice.

Through the Hospitality Sector Council, we are working with businesses to consider how best to strengthen recruitment, training, and retention.

The Retail Sector Council recently published a discussion document, Retail – The Great Enabler, inviting comments on the key challenges for the sector including skills and employment.