Waveney MP welcomed Nick Boles MP Minister of State jointly for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Department for Education along with Norfolk MP Chloe Smith and Ipswich MP Ben Gummer during a visit to Lowestoft on Monday. Mr Boles visited the construction site at Mobbs Way in Oulton [just off the Gorleston Road] where the contractors, Wellington Construction are carrying out a commercial development on a site which is in the Enterprise Zone. Wellington have recently taken on a number of apprentices and two were on hand to meet the Minister.   

 

The visit followed on from a Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) House of Commons Reception, which Mr Aldous recently hosted and at which Mr Boles spoke.  The lack of construction apprentices was highlighted and Mr Aldous discussed the importance of the UK construction industry to the local economy and how it can provide more jobs.

 

Mr Aldous commented: “It is important to provide young people in Waveney with the training and support they need to have long and fulfilling careers in the construction industry. This is vital to addressing the skills shortages we face locally and nationally, and to creating well paid professional jobs that will boost the economy.  I applaud the work of Wellington Construction who are taking on apprentices and training them to a high standard whilst leading the way in the constructor sector in the area.” 

 

During the visit the very important launch of the Youth Promise led by the New Anglia LEP and Suffolk County Council took place.  LEP Chairman, Mark Pendlington, Ben Gummer MP, Chloe Smith MP were on hand to talk about the importance of the initiative. 

 

The New Anglia Youth Promise will be a promise that every young person (16-24) in Norfolk and Suffolk will get the personal support they need to get an apprenticeship, training, work experience or a job within 3 months of leaving education or employment.

 

Specifically this promise would consist of:

New and dynamic “Youth Employment Centres” (like ‘MyGo’ In Ipswich) covering economically important travel to work areas and providing a single front door to all services and support.

 

 

Photo: Colin Law WDC, Mark Pendlington New Anglia LEP,  Minister of State Nick Boles, Paul Pitcher, Wellington Construction, Peter Aldous MP, Chloe Smith MP, Ben Gummer MP, Wellington apprentices Liam and George.