20 January 2011
Waveney MP Peter Aldous today welcomed new Government measures to guarantee the quality of the Government’s Apprenticeship programme.

The Specification of Apprenticeship Standards for England, published today, will ensure:

  • All apprenticeships deliver high quality, nationally-recognised qualifications relevant to the skill, trade or occupation of the learner and employer;

  • All apprenticeships offer individuals appropriate training to achieve a good standard of literacy and numeracy (and ICT where relevant to the skill, trade or occupation);

  • Every apprentice will receive at least 280 hours of guided learning per year.


The news comes after a summit of business leaders with Energy Minister, Charles Hendry, at the Orbis Energy Centre in Lowestoft last Friday organised by Mr Aldous at which he spoke of the need to attract further investment in to the renewable energy sector in Waveney and to ensure that the local work-force have the skills necessary to benefit from new jobs in the sector. This view was reinforced 2 days earlier at Lowestoft College when Mr Aldous spoke at the launch of the National Apprenticeship Service’s “Challenge Suffolk 100 in 100” campaign, which aims to recruit 100 apprentices in Suffolk over the next 100 days.

Commenting today, Mr Aldous said:
“The renewable energy sector has great potential to flourish in the Waveney. This was highlighted last week as I welcomed the Minister to the Orbis Energy Centre in Lowestoft to meet local businesses and potential investors. Working together I am convinced that we can create a significant number of jobs for local people and a good quality Apprenticeship programme will ensure that the training is available to skill people for these new jobs. I look forward to working with all parties interested in making this happen over the coming months.”

The Government will increase annual funding for adult Apprenticeships by up to £250m above the £398m a year funding inherited from the last Government, by 2014-15 and is reforming the programme to deliver 75,000 more apprenticeship places at advanced level and above.

Over 85,000 employers offer Apprenticeships. There are almost 200 job roles in which someone may be an apprentice; from digital media to electrical engineering; horticulture to accountancy. Those with a Level 2 (GCSE level) apprenticeship earn on average around £73,000 more over their lifetime than those with an equivalent level qualification or below; and people with an advanced apprenticeship around £105,000 more.