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Sir Reg announces additional plans to help would-be apprentices

22 June 2009

Employment Minister, Sir Reg Empey, today announced plans which will help more young people to become apprentices, setting them on the path to career success.

The Minister announced the new Programme-Led Apprenticeships during an Assembly debate on the Employment and Learning Committee’s report entitled The Way Forward for Apprenticeships.   

After the debate Sir Reg said: “I welcome the Committee’s report and fully acknowledge the findings that the present economic situation has made it increasingly difficult for would-be apprentices to find paid-for employment whilst completing their training.  

“It is for this reason that I am introducing the Programme-Led Apprenticeships which will give 16 and 17 year old school leavers the opportunity to gain a full apprenticeship qualification in a chosen skill area.  They will access this through a combination of simulated learning and time spent with an employer on a work placement, one day per week.”

The Minister also called on Ministerial colleagues to find work placements in the public sector and to use public procurement contracts to lever placements from within the public sector supply chains.

The initiative, which will increase spending on apprenticeship training by an additional £6.8m, will begin in September 2009.   

NOTES TO EDITORS:

  1. The Programme-Led Apprenticeship provision will run parallel to the current Employer-Led provision.
  2. All media queries to the Department for Employment and Learning Press Office. Tel: 028 9025 7872.  Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.