Karin Smyth MP takes apprenticeships campaign to Government Minister
Karin Smyth, MP for Bristol South, today chaired the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Apprenticeships ‘Ask Apprentice Panel’ as part of National Apprenticeship week.
The Bristol South MP, who has been a champion of quality apprenticeships for many years, highlighted the importance of government support for apprentices now in the midst of the pandemic, and urged the Apprenticeships Minister to ensure that all levels of apprenticeships are protected.
Those attending the meeting included Minister for Apprenticeships, Gillian Keegan MP, apprentices from Amazon, BAE Systems, KPMG, and the Co-Op.
As Chair, Karin Smyth MP pressed the Government to take a holistic approach to apprenticeships and emphasised the opportunity to now strengthen some of the proposals within the Skills for Jobs White Paper.
Karin Smyth, MP for Bristol South, said:
“It is important that as a parliamentary group, we scrutinise government policy carefully, especially when it can have such a huge impact on people’s future skills and education. National Apprenticeship week 2021 gives us the chance to drive home the fact that apprenticeships must have parity of esteem in the world of education and training.
“During the APPG on Apprenticeships meeting we heard from talented apprentices and got to learn what more we can do to support them. As our economy begins to recover from Covid-19 we will need proper investment in skills at all levels and for all ages, to help support our local communities achieve their potential.”