Last week was the 15th National Apprentice Week
which brings together businesses and apprentices across the country to
raise awareness of the positive impact that apprenticeships make on
individuals, businesses, and the wider economy. In recent years we have
started to see emphasis switch back from university degrees towards
apprenticeships as a choice for many young people. It means that they
earn while they learn and do not have to take out student loans. There
has also been a growing realisation that an apprenticeship can offer a better
career path than a degree for many and that there are no longer any glass
ceilings that prevent people from progressing to the top because they embarked on a
vocational learning path.
I have always been a strong advocate for apprenticeships. When I was a student, I studied at Cornwall College between 1987 and 1990 for a BTEC National Certificate in Business Studies and then after that a City and Guilds in Agricultural Management. I have always looked back fondly on my time at Cornwall College and valued the skills that I learned there.
The College has a deep-rooted history in our area and has been at the heart of all further and higher education in Cornwall for the last 80 years or so. It is a vital local asset delivering work-based learning in our area, with students able to learn a variety of skills such as plumbing, carpentry, car maintenance, or engineering.
Colleges and higher education providers such as Cornwall College will be vital to people’s prospects and chances as a result of the changing economy and the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic. Work is changing, and it is important that people develop the skills they need to create new and better jobs. The various Covid restrictions have interrupted the education of many including those taking degrees and apprentices and we need to help them pick up where they left off.
It is good to see businesses across Cornwall taking advantage of new government support which has recently been increased by £170 million to £2.7 billion in 2024-25. Local Companies such as Blue Flame work with Camborne college and have trained over 60 apprentices since the company’s inception. Similarly, Rodda’s has also supported many young people in learning new skills under their various apprentices’ schemes.
Since I was first elected, I have made clear that regeneration and job creation have been my top priorities and that includes ensuring that we are opening new routes for people of all ages to learn new skills and enhance their productivity. I look forward to continuing to support apprentices across the Camborne and Redruth area as we continue to build back better from the pandemic.
