Stephen Metcalfe has welcomed the Conservative plan to deliver 100,000 more apprenticeships per year if Rishi Sunak is elected – building on the success of the Government’s national apprenticeship scheme which has benefitted thousands of young people in South Basildon and East Thurrock.
Stephen Metcalfe said: “During my time as MP, I have been a big proponent of apprenticeships and the huge positives of earning whilst learning. I have met constituents who are apprentices for Leonardo Aerospace, Case New Holland Tractors, the Royal Opera House, and Mitchell & Butlers Pubs, to name but a few. The opportunities are endless and it’s great that there have been around 650 new apprentices every year in South Basildon and East Thurrock since 2019.
British universities are some of the best in world but we shouldn’t set arbitrary targets on the number of people attending university. I want to see people do apprenticeships and university courses that will help them achieve their aspirations. Therefore, I am very happy that the Conservatives have committed to delivering 100,000 new apprenticeships per year – instead of funding low-quality courses implemented under Tony Blair.
In the constituency, we’ve seen a massive increase in the number of T-Levels and apprenticeship opportunities. A central part of this work has been the expansion of South Essex College and, last year, I was delighted to open South Essex College’s new Institute of Technology – increasing career opportunities for people, and for those looking to re-skill.”
Under this new Conservative policy, the poorest performing university courses would be assessed on their drop-out rates, job progression and future earnings potential. They would be replaced by high-skilled apprenticeships so young people could learn the skills they need to reach their full potential.
Since 2010, the Conservatives have created a world-class apprenticeship system that has delivered 5.8 million apprenticeships and now reaches nearly 70 percent of all occupations.
Gillian Keegan, the Education Secretary, said: “There are no limits to where an apprenticeship can take you. Mine took me from a car factory in Kirkby to the Cabinet.
When Labour were in power they pushed an arbitrary target to get half of young people to university, creating a boom in low quality degrees – leaving far too many students saddled with debt and little else.”
Further information on Stephen Metcalfe’s campaigns can be found here: www.stephenmetcalfe.org.uk
