Businesses back scrapping red tape to boost apprenticeships
Labour's Peterborough MP Andy Pakes said: "Apprenticeships are the golden thread that runs through all of the ambitions to build new houses, create new jobs, fix the NHS and get towards net zero."The Department for Education (DfE) said a relaxation of the rules could mean 10,000 more apprentices are able to complete courses every year.At a special edition of BBC Politics East, filmed in Peterborough, Ms Richards said local businesses wanted to "get rid of red tape around apprenticeships"."Removing the requirements of apprentices to have Level 2 in maths and English is definitely going to help".She added: "Small businesses want some financial support... There are financial barriers and we need to get rid of these."Ms Richard said recent FSB research has found that "most small businesses are looking at reducing the headcount or keeping the same number of staff".
Mr Halfon said: "There were a lot of changes when I was apprentices minister."We brought in that the government - the taxpayer - would pay for all the training costs of 16-21-year-old apprentices."I wish we had introduced a skills tax credit to encourage more SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) to have apprentices."But, he added: "I really worry about these functional skills. If you have maths and English, it sets you up for life."Peterborough College's director of apprenticeships James Whybrow said it was important to make apprenticeships "relevant for particular individuals", rather than "one size fits all".
Mr Pakes said: "We have to find the mechanisms to support small businesses."I think the growth in the skills levy (paid by firms) is a really important thing for business. "I speak to Peterborough employers and people support the levy because they see it pays back into their company for the next generation of apprentices."The challenge now is not the money but how we make sure the money gets to the right places."
Callum Mullis, an engineering student at Peterborough College, told BBC Politics East: "As I got older I realised engineering was something that I felt passionate about."Apprenticeship seemed the better route to go down. "If I only went to sixth form to learn engineering I wouldn't necessarily be able to apply those skills."Whereas through this apprenticeship I am able to apply it and learn it at the same time."
Building apprentice at Peterborough College Tyler Macartney said: "I had run bars and restaurants before and had my child so I wanted a complete change in career and started working in the construction trade, self-employed at first and then for a firm. "My boss came to say it would be a great idea for me to advance my skills and go on and do an apprenticeship."Nowadays they are building so many homes. You're always going to have work. There's a need for homes. Young people should be doing apprenticeships."
BBC Politics East will be broadcast on Sunday, 16 February at 10:00 GMT on BBC One in the East of England, and will be available after broadcast on BBC iPlayer.Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
4 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Ex-Barcelona chief makes big Marcus Rashford claim after Nico Williams transfer decision
Barcelona were in talks with Nico Williams before he opted to sign a contract extension at Athletic Bilbao, prompting the La Liga giants to pursue a loan move for Marcus Rashford Former Barcelona club president Joan Gaspart believes that Nico Williams' decision to reject them was a blessing in disguise - because Marcus Rashford is a 'better player'. Williams, 23, was in talks to join Barca from Athletic Bilbao last month, with the Spanish champions willing to pay his £43million release clause after missing out on him a year ago. But negotiations began to stall when Barcelona were unable to guarantee the Spain international immediate registration with La Liga. In recent years, new signings at Barca have had to wait weeks in some cases before being able to play league matches. Joan Garcia, who Hansi Flick's side paid £21m for earlier this summer, still isn't registered amid Barcelona's well-documented financial woes. Nor is Rashford, who completed a season-long loan move from Manchester United last month. Gaspart reckons that the 27-year-old is better than Williams, who 'used' Barca to earn himself a huge 10-year contract which includes an increased release clause of £86m. During an interview with Dario Sport, the ex-Barca chief said: "For me, Marcus Rashford is a better player than Nico Williams, and I don't care what his brother (Inaki) says. "He [Nico] used us, but in a 'good way'. and he got good contract in Bilbao. I'm happy for him. However, I do not understand the anger from Athletic Club, I signed many players from them in the past including Andoni Zubizarreta and I always go along well with the president." Meanwhile, current Barcelona president Joan Laporta is 'confident' that Rashford will be registered in time for the 2025-26 campaign, with the man himself enjoying his time on their pre-season tour of Asia. "We're ready for the season to start," Rashford commented. "It's been a good pre-season. It's been good to integrate into the team. I've enjoyed getting used to the team, used to the coach. There is a lot of great players but I knew that before I came here." Would Nico Williams have been a better signing than Marcus Rashford? Have your say in the comments section. "The quality is very high, the intensity is very high and this is what we need to continue having throughout the season. Hopefully we can go one step further than last season and win the Champions League." On his chances of staying permanently, as Barca have the option to sign him for £26m at the end of the upcoming season, Rashford replied: "I'm not thinking about next season," he said. "I want to do the best thing for the team whilst I'm here and then we will see."
Scottish Sun
11 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Russia walks out of ballistic missile treaty with US as Medvedev warns nemesis Donald Trump & Europe ‘expect more'
The treaty banned missiles capable of hitting targets up to 3,400 miles away ROCKET MAN Russia walks out of ballistic missile treaty with US as Medvedev warns nemesis Donald Trump & Europe 'expect more' DMITRY Medvedev slammed NATO's 'anti-Russian policy' for driving Russia to scrap the Cold War-era moratorium on nuclear missiles. In his latest online clash with Donald Trump, the ex-Russian president ominously warned the West to 'expect further steps'. Advertisement 5 The Kremlin announced on Monday it was withdrawing from its self-imposed ban on deploying mid- and short-range missiles Credit: Getty 5 Ex-President Dmitry Medvedev said Russia's withdrawal was 'the result of NATO countries' anti-Russian policy' Credit: AFP 5 Footage released by the Russian Defence Ministry on March 2024 purportedly shows the test firing of an ICBM Credit: AFP Medvedev's comments came shortly after Russia's Foreign Ministry said the country no longer regarded itself bound by the moratorium on the deployment of short- and medium-range nuclear missiles. The ex-president wrote on X on Monday: "The Russian Foreign Ministry's statement on the withdrawal of the moratorium on the deployment of medium- and short-range missiles is the result of NATO countries' anti-Russian policy. "This is a new reality all our opponents will have to reckon with. Expect further steps." The deputy head of Russia's powerful Security Council did not elaborate on the nature of the "further steps". Advertisement The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty was signed in December 1987 by US President Ronald Reagan and Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev. But the US withdrew from the treaty in 2019, accusing Russia of breaking the rules. Moscow has since said it will not deploy the missiles - with ranges of 311 to 3,418 miles - unless Washington does first. But Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned last December that Moscow would have to respond to what he called the US and NATO's "destabilising actions". Advertisement The ministry said: "Since the situation is developing towards the actual deployment of U.S.-made land-based medium- and short-range missiles in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region, the Russian Foreign Ministry notes that the conditions for maintaining a unilateral moratorium on the deployment of similar weapons have disappeared." It comes as Trump said on Friday that he had ordered two nuclear submarines to be positioned to "the appropriate regions". Russia and China begin war games in Sea of Japan after Trump nuclear threat Trump and Medvedev have been locked in a war of words after the ex-Russian president accused Trump of 'playing the ultimatum game' over the White House's push to end the war in Ukraine. Trump first gave Putin 50 days to end the war - but slashed the deadline to just 10 days from July 29 due to a lack of progress on Moscow's part. Advertisement The US president also vowed to impose secondary tariffs on Russia if a ceasefire agreement is not reached by August 8. Medvedev ominously warned Trump that Russia "isn't Israel or even Iran". 5 It comes as Trump ordered two nuclear submarines to be positioned near Russia Credit: Getty 5 A photo taken from video released by the Russian Defence Ministry in August 2024 of a Russian Army Buk-2M missile system targeting Ukraine Credit: AP Advertisement "Each new ultimatum is a threat and a step towards war," he wrote on a post on X. Trump blasted Medvedev's comments as 'foolish and inflammatory' before ordering nuclear submarines to be deployed near Russian waters. "Based on the highly provocative statements of the Former President of Russia, Dmitry Medvedev, who is now the Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, I have ordered two Nuclear Submarines to be positioned in the appropriate regions," Trump wrote on Truth Social. The US has the world's largest fleet of nuclear-powered submarines, led by the USS Virginia - a 377-foot vessel armed with cruise missiles. Advertisement
Business News Wales
13 hours ago
- Business News Wales
Apprenticeship Pathway 'Should Be Promoted as a Respected and Quality Option'
Schools, colleges, employers and the Welsh Government must work together to present apprenticeships as a strong start to a career, the Senedd's Economy Committee has concluded. The Committee heard evidence from apprentices and apprenticeship providers and has laid out recommendations for the Welsh Government to help people make better choices about their education and training in its latest report, Apprenticeship Pathways. The Committee believes that if the Welsh Government increases awareness and take-up of apprenticeships this will allow people to improve their skills and earning potential, building a more productive workforce and boosting the economy. Matt, who did an apprenticeship at Gower College, gave evidence to the Committee and said: 'The biggest issue is awareness. I had no idea apprenticeships existed, what they led to, or that they were equivalent to GCSEs. When I was unemployed, no one at the job centre mentioned them—and I never saw a poster or heard about them from employers either. 'I'm now a senior healthcare assistant, and I had to either have a Level 3 qualification or be willing to study for one. While senior management supported this, many line managers don't understand how apprenticeships work or how to support staff properly. 'These qualifications are ideal for people like me who left school with nothing. Through my apprenticeship with Gower College and support from Swansea Bay University Health Board, I gained GCSEs in Maths and English, new skills for my job, and I'm now studying for a nursing degree. It's taken me from no qualifications to university.' The Committee heard that many learners are not aware of alternative routes into employment and pursue further academic study even though they could be much happier, more successful and more suited to the vocational one. The Committee has laid out a number of recommendations for the Welsh Government on apprenticeship pathways, with calls for: Better engagement and promotion of apprenticeships as a viable education pathway for students The Welsh Government should work with schools, colleges and employers to present vocational courses as a good quality option Faster progress in developing a vocational education and training strategy Barriers to recruiting and retaining skilled assessors and apprenticeship trainers to be addressed Increases to pay for apprenticeships to be explored as part of the fair work agenda. Andrew RT Davies MS, Chair of the Senedd's Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee, said: 'For many people, apprenticeships can be an excellent choice. They combine learning earning, working and training. The apprentices who gave evidence were enjoying their courses and they are thriving as a result. 'However, we heard about many challenges facing people who want to do an apprenticeship, not least understanding and navigating the system itself. For young people, the academic route is clear, and schools work hard to signpost and encourage their learners to do A-levels and degrees, the same cannot be said for apprenticeships. 'We're calling on the Welsh Government to work with schools, colleges and employers to make sure that the apprenticeship pathway is promoted to everyone as a respected and quality option. 'There are huge benefits to apprentices, employers and the economy if we get this right in Wales.'
