Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much funding her Department has (a) allocated and (b) spent on encouraging BME people to take apprenticeships in construction, IT and engineering.

We have set an ambitious public target to increase the proportion of apprenticeships started by people from BAME backgrounds by 20% by 2020.

There is no specific budget allocation to promote apprenticeships to individuals with a BAME background in any sector. Our ‘Get In Go Far’ campaign, featuring BAME role models, encourages more employers to offer apprenticeship opportunities and more individuals to apply.

Additionally, the Apprenticeships Diversity Champions Network launched on 21^st February, is engaging and inspiring employers and communities to ensure apprenticeships are represented by people from a diverse range of backgrounds, reflecting the widest spectrum of our society. It aims to influence the behaviour of other employers to support more people from underrepresented groups, including those with disabilities, women, and members of the black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities, to access apprenticeships.