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News release
Date: 03 January 2014
There’s never been a better time to take on your first apprentice
The Cornwall Apprenticeships ‘300 in 100’ campaign will launch on Monday 6th January
2014 aimed at generating interest among employers across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly
in getting young people into work with an Apprenticeship. It is hoped during the 100 days of
the campaign that 300 pledges from businesses to take on apprentices will be made. The
campaign has the backing of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership
through its Employment Skills Board.
Apprentices are young, ready to learn, full of energy and ideas and are the future of
businesses in Cornwall. An apprentice could be the best return on an investment made by a
business in 2014. After training, moulding and developing an apprentice, businesses can sit
back and watch a young person and their business grow.
An added incentive for businesses to take on an apprentice is the Apprenticeship Grant for
Employers (AGE), available for eligible businesses who take on a young apprentice aged
16-24. These grants are worth £1,500 to employers – providing they employ less than 1,000
staff and have not taken on an apprentice in the last 12 months. The new campaign,
involving the Cornwall Training Provider Network and the National Apprenticeship Service,
will encourage employers to take advantage of these grants.
The campaign has the support of all six MPs for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Businesses
across Cornwall have been invited to attend a series of launch events starting on 6th January
2014 which are taking place throughout the county. Businesses that are interested in
attending an event to find out more about how Apprenticeships can benefit their business
can book online as follows:
Date Time Location Event code
6.1.14 8:00am Penzance Cricket
Club, Penzance,
TR18 3DX
www.andrewgeorge.eventbrite.co.uk
10.1.14 8:00am Knowledge Spa,
Truro, TR1 3HD
www.sarahnewton.eventbrite.co.uk
10.1.14 12:00 midday St Austell Printing
Company, St
Austell, PL25
4FD
www.stephengilbert.eventbrite.co.uk
10.1.14 3:00pm The Cornwall
School of Tourism
and Hospitality, St
Mellion, PL12
6SD
www.sheryllmurray.eventbrite.co.uk
11.1.14 2:00pm Heartlands, Pool,
TR15 3QY
www.georgeeustice.eventbrite.co.uk
17.1.14 4:30pm St Mary’s Parish
Centre, Bodmin,
PL31 1NF
www.danrogerson.eventbrite.co.uk
The Cornwall Apprenticeships website www.cornwallapprenticeships.com acts as the
gateway to great Apprenticeships in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly with details of the
Apprenticeship frameworks available in Cornwall and current Apprenticeship jobs in the
county.
Mark Williams, Chair of the Cornwall Training Provider Network, said:
“We are delighted to be leading this campaign alongside our local MP’s. Our network of
training providers is dedicated to supporting the development and delivery of high quality
apprenticeships in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Continuing to support the growth of
apprenticeships in the region not only provides significant value to the local economy it
creates employment for young people; starting them on career pathways that provide the
highest lifetime employment rates of any training investment”
Chris Pomfret, Chair of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership,
said: “Skills are a cornerstone of our economic strategy for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly
and this campaign is a great way to give our young people new opportunities while helping
to meet the skills needs of our businesses. It is only by working together that we will create
the skilled and flexible workforce we need to meet the challenges of the future and I urge
local businesses to get involved.”
Andrew George, MP for St Ives, said:
“This is a golden opportunity for Cornwall. Cornish businesses can help aspiring young
people and the resourcefulness, talent and energy of our young people can be harnessed to
give business a boost. It may not be for everyone, but it’s well worth giving the idea a second
thought.”
Stephen Gilbert, MP for St Austell & Newquay, said:
“Liberal Democrats in government are building a stronger economy in a fairer society by
boosting job opportunities and helping young people get on in life through education,
apprenticeship and training schemes.
“Since 2010, we have doubled the number of apprenticeship starts in Cornwall and the
Cornwall Apprenticeships Campaign is now working across the county to boost that further
and create 1000 new places by March next year.
George Eustice, MP for Camborne and Redruth, said:
‘‘I fully support Cornwall Apprenticeships and wish it the best of luck for its challenging aim of
getting 1000 more apprenticeship places by March next year. Apprenticeships are a brilliant
way of introducing young people to work and teaching them the vital skills they need in
different trades and they often lead to jobs in the future. I hope local businesses will play a
big role in this important campaign.”
Dan Rogerson, MP for North Cornwall, said:
"Young people in North Cornwall are keen to work hard and get out there to find
opportunities that will lead to a better future. I often hear from business owners impressed by
the dedication and drive of young people on their team.
"In Government Liberal Democrats are committed to helping young people find work and
have worked to create 1.5 million new apprenticeships nationally. I look forward to working
with Cornish businesses to create even more apprenticeships locally that will help young
people, businesses and the Cornish economy alike."
Sheryll Murray, MP for Southeast Cornwall, said:
"Apprenticeships are a great way in which businesses can nurture new talent and allow them
to maintain the skills they need in the area in which they operate. I would urge people to join
me for the event organised by the Cornwall Apprenticeships Campaign on Friday the 10th
January at The Cornwall School of Tourism and Hospitality at St Mellion from 3pm to hear all
about the scheme."
Sarah Newton, MP for Truro and Falmouth, said:
‘‘We already have some excellent examples of apprenticeships in Truro & Falmouth,
with businesses working with our local colleges, such as the award winning
apprenticeship scheme operated by Pendennis Worldclass Superyachts in Falmouth.
However there is definitely scope for new apprenticeships to be created in businesses
across my constituency.”
‘‘I strongly encourage local businesses to get in touch, to further explore
apprenticeships, and the benefits they can bring. I will be doing all I can to highlight
these benefits and will continue to call for the new apprenticeship places that will
provide great opportunities for Cornish youngsters, whilst enabling local businesses to
develop a skilled work force.’’
Ends
Notes to editors:
For further details contact Jason Sugden, Cornwall Apprenticeships Campaign Events
Marketing Coordinator, on 07854 039960 or email jasons@truro-penwith.ac.uk
