Better Business / Member news
City of Bristol College principal joins prime minister to celebrate UK apprenticeships
On Monday, City of Bristol College’s principal and chief executive officer, Julia Gray, attended the prime minister’s Opportunities for All: A National Apprenticeship Week reception at 10 Downing Street.
Also attending were Jacqui Smith, skills minister; Ollie de Botton, the prime minister’s expert adviser on education and skills, who has previously visited City of Bristol College; apprentices; employers; and schoolchildren interested in apprenticeships.
The prime minister, Keir Starmer, met apprentices and influencers who use their platforms to promote career paths.
The event celebrated the crucial role apprenticeships play in creating good jobs, supporting industries and strengthening communities across the UK.
“Apprenticeships give young people real experience, real prospects, and a real route into good careers,” said the prime minister
Held as part of National Apprenticeship Week, the reception highlighted growing national recognition of apprentices as key contributors to the UK’s economic future.
A government press release published last week saw the prime minister vow to “unlock opportunities for young people across the country”.
The Government will pilot a university-style clearing system where “near miss” applicants who miss out on their first-choice apprenticeship will be redirected to similar local opportunities. Delivered with employers and mayoral strategic authorities, the pilot will test how young people can be matched with suitable employers and apprenticeships, often on their doorstep, if their initial applications are unsuccessful.
An online platform will bring together apprenticeship information in one place for young people keen to explore the route but unsure where to start. It will include new data on actual earnings and how apprentices progress after training, helping young people compare options and see which apprenticeships lead to lasting careers.
This will give employers, particularly small and medium-sized businesses, access to a stronger pipeline of motivated young talent, helping to close the skills gap.
Prime minister Keir Starmer said: “Apprenticeships give young people real experience, real prospects, and a real route into good careers.
“But for too long young people have been held back from the opportunities they need to get on in life because of outdated assumptions about how to make it into a successful career.
“We’re unlocking opportunities for young people across the country by making it easier and faster to get the skills that matter, so more young people can build a secure life for themselves.”
For information on how City of Bristol College can support apprentices and employers, visit www.cityofbristol.ac.uk/apprenticeships-at-city-of-bristol-college
All photos: City of Bristol College
City of Bristol College is a member of the Bristol24/7 Better Business network, an initiative to help businesses thrive while creating a positive impact on Bristol and the people who live here. As part of their membership, businesses can publish member news stories like this. For more information, visit my.bristol247.com/better-business
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