Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will discuss with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government the potential merits of using the business rates mailer to advertise the apprenticeships programme.

The Government continues to use a wide variety of mechanisms to promote the merits of apprenticeships.

We use the internet, social media, advertising campaigns, as well as direct communications and face to face dialogue with employers and individuals to champion the benefits of apprenticeships.

Our Get In Go Far campaign was launched to inspire more young people to take on an apprenticeship, and more employers to offer them. In 2016/17 the campaign generated more than 2 million visits to its microsite which has, in turn, generated more than 120,000 applications for apprenticeship places.

We already work closely with officials in the DCLG and other government departments to help us to engage with employers in the public and private sector alike to make sure they are aware of the benefits of apprenticeships and take advantage of the opportunity, and will continue to do so.