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LGA - Queen's Speech: Councils respond to apprenticeships plans

Recently the Government announced a Full Employment and Welfare Benefits Bill, which includes plans to create 3 million more apprenticeships over the next five years. What does this mean for councils?

Responding to the Full Employment and Welfare Benefits Bill set out in the Queen's Speech today, which includes plans to create three million more apprenticeships over the next five years, Cllr David Sparks, Chair of the Local Government Association, said:

"Local government is right behind government's ambition to create three million apprenticeships and previous research has clearly demonstrated the importance of enabling councils to engage local businesses to make that ambition a reality.

"A good apprenticeship can give young people the experience, skills and understanding that can often lead straight into a full-time job. At present, too many new apprenticeships are low skilled and taken by older people already in work with their employer. Too few new apprentices are school-leavers trying to get their first job, and too few are getting the construction skills to build the homes and roads our local communities need.

"With the greatest will, government alone cannot engage over two million employers from Whitehall.

"Rather than spend more money on a struggling system, we need devolved training that enables partnerships of councils, schools, colleges and employers to both boost opportunities locally and to ensure youngsters get the skills, experience and advice to thrive."

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