Newcastle North MP, Catherine McKinnell, has urged Ministers to mark National Apprenticeship Week (3rd-7th March) by making better use of the public procurement system to increase the number of places available.
Speaking during questions to Business, Innovation and Skills Ministers in the Commons this morning (6th March), Catherine highlighted the Apprenticeships and Skills (Public Procurement) Bill she introduced to Parliament shortly after being elected in 2010. This proposal, which would require major suppliers on public contracts to offer new apprenticeship places, has since been confirmed as Labour Party policy.
Catherine said:
‘National Apprenticeship Week is a fantastic opportunity to promote the value of apprenticeships to employers and employees alike. Having hired my own business administration apprentice in my constituency office, I know at firsthand the benefits this can bring.
‘But the Government is still refusing to consider the idea of making better use of public procurement contracts to increase the number of places available. This is really disappointing for a region like the North East which continues to have the highest levels of unemployment across the country.
‘I know that businesses across our region are playing a really big role in backing apprenticeships. But what better way could there be for Ministers to mark National Apprenticeship Week than taking the important step of requiring those firms who benefit from large public contracts to provide apprenticeship opportunities?’