Sir Robert Buckland celebrates apprenticeship starts

South Swindon MP Sir Robert Buckland has highlighted 9,980 apprenticeship starts in his constituency since becoming an MP in 2010.

Marking Apprenticeship Week, Sir Robert hailed the Government as having created a world-class apprenticeship system from the ground up and delivering 5.7 million apprenticeships across the country. 

He said: “I hear from my constituents the impact the Conservative Government’s apprenticeship scheme has had on opening up new opportunities and career pathways, as well as playing a critical role in to the local economy of South Swindon. 

“During Apprenticeship Week, I want to congratulate all 9,980 of my constituents who have started an apprenticeship since I first became Member of Parliament for South Swindon back in 2010.

“With nearly 700 training courses now available, the plan under the Conservatives is working, delivering a brighter future for people across the country by ensuring they have the skills they need to secure high-skilled jobs, creating a stronger economy."

Sir Robert said he wanted to celebrate the achievements of "fantastic" apprentices in South Swindon and across the country, and to reflect on the Conservative Government’s achievements in creating an apprenticeship system from the ground up.

With nearly 700 apprenticeship training courses available now, the MP said, young people had a diverse range of career pathways available to ensure they learned the skills they need to succeed in a career they loved. 

This week, the Government announced they were introducing a new teaching apprenticeship that will offer a high-quality, alternative route for people to become qualified teachers, in addition to what it highlighted as record levels of funding in skills and apprenticeships, with investment to apprenticeships increasing to £2.7 billion by 2024-25. 

Minister for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher Education, Robert Halfon MP, said: “Apprenticeship week is an opportunity to reflect on all that apprentices across the country have achieved and the immense contribution they continue to make to our economy.

“Under the Conservatives our plan is working with over 5.7 million people starting apprenticeships since 2010 – enabling young people to climb the ladder of opportunity to good jobs and higher wages. 

“This progress would be destroyed by Labour who would take us back to square one by halving apprenticeships, risking the futures of thousands of young people across the country.”