Bristol South MP Karin Smyth will today (10 October) call on the government to help local young people into apprenticeships by better supporting small and medium sized businesses in her constituency.
She is meeting Apprenticeships Minister Robert Halfon today to explore ways local small and medium sized enterprises in Bristol South can play their part in meeting the government’s target of three million new apprenticeships by 2020.
Karin Smyth supports the ambitious target and has previously quizzed Ministers – including then-Prime Minister David Cameron – about the issue in the House of Commons chamber.
“Fewer young people go to university from South Bristol than from anywhere else in the UK, and Bristol South has hardly any large employers. So the role of small businesses is pivotal to the creation of the good quality local apprenticeship opportunities that young people deserve,” says the Labour MP.
During this afternoon’s meeting Karin Smyth will also discuss improving the awareness of apprenticeship opportunities amongst local young people and their parents as they consider options on leaving full time education.
And because many of those who start an apprenticeship programme do not complete it, she will also raise how young people are supported through an apprenticeship.
As a member of the Commons Public Accounts Committee, Karin Smyth will take part in questioning on Wednesday 12 October during an inquiry into the value to the taxpayer derived from apprenticeships.