APPRENTICESHIPS (No. 2)

Early day motion 2469, tabled 23 November 2011 by Paul Blomfield (Labour). Signed by 28 members.

That this House believes apprenticeships are an essential part of the workplace; recognises that apprenticeships provide individuals, businesses, the public sector and the wider UK labour market with vital vocational skills; notes with great concern that unemployment has reached 2.62 million, with 1.02 million young people unemployed; further believes that greater priority needs to be given to increasing the number of apprentices across the UK to provide essential career opportunities for young people; is concerned that a majority of businesses do not consider apprenticeships to be relevant to their sector, according to the British Chambers of Commerce's Skills For Business: More to Learn? report; urges the Department forBusiness, Innovation and Skills to put greater emphasis on vocational education and further integrate employability skills into the education syllabus; and further urges the Department to review current apprenticeship frameworks to make these more adaptable and responsive to the changing needs of the UK labour market.

Signatures by party: Labour 15, Liberal Democrat 7, Conservative 2, DUP 2, Independent 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1.