This week is National Apprenticeships Week and local MP Michael Tomlinson is backing apprenticeships in Mid Dorset & North Poole. Michael has joined a campaign to spread awareness of the opportunities that apprenticeships offer to both young people and businesses.
Michael has pledged to champion apprenticeships in Dorset – and ensure that his constituents benefit from the increasing number of quality apprenticeships on offer as the Government heads toward its target of three million apprenticeship starts by 2020.
The campaign, the Parliamentary 100 in 100, led by Nadhim Zahawi MP as the Prime Minister’s Adviser on Apprentices – will see Members of Parliament from all parties promote apprenticeships in their local area for 100 days, and seek pledges from local businesses, charities or schools to take on apprentices for the first time, or to grow their existing apprenticeship programmes.
As part of this pledge, Michael has organised a Jobs and Apprenticeships fair on 15th April at QE School in Wimborne. This aims to match local employers with local pupils and show what opportunities are available for young people.
Michael Tomlinson said:
“I absolutely believe that apprenticeships offer a brilliant opportunity for local businesses to help develop the careers of talented young people here in Dorset and ensuring the workforce of the future has the skills it needs. People such as Jamie Oliver, Stella McCartney, and even Alex Ferguson all started their careers as apprentices – not to mention many of the today’s business leaders.
I want local young people to be the rising stars of the future, and local employers to help grow that talent. I will be writing to local business setting out the significant benefits, and how to get involved”
Nadhim Zahawi MP added:
“I am delighted that Michael Tomlinson is backing apprenticeships in Mid Dorset & North Poole. We delivered more than 2.3million apprenticeships starts during the last Parliament, which is a record to be proud of. But for every single one of those apprenticeship starts, there was a person gaining new skills, and hands on experience, giving them a brighter future. This is why it is so important to ensure that Mid Dorset & North Poole is a key part of the drive toward the three million, ensuring that even more opportunities are created, and I am delighted that Michael will be doing just that.”