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Cable praises ‘brilliant initiative’
BUSINESS Secretary Vince Cable has praised the Nottingham Post’s campaign to find apprenticeships for unemployed people.
The Get Notts Working campaign aimed to find 100 new apprenticeships within 100 days but, with a month still to go, local firms have pledged to take on 170 apprentices. The target has now been raised to 200.
Speaking to the Post, Dr Cable, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, said: “I think it’s a brilliant initiative. I’d like to see more local newspapers taking that sort of step. It really supports the local city in the best possible way. The fact you’ve almost reached your 200 target is an enormous achievement.”
Last month the campaign received the backing of John Hayes, Minister of State for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning.
Lord Sugar is also among the campaign’s supporters.
Many firms have come forward to offer apprentice roles.
South Notts College has offered nine apprenticeships, vegetable box firm Parsnips and Pears has taken on three apprentices and S&H Plumbing and Heating pledged to take on one apprentice.
Dr Cable spoke of the importance of apprenticeships when he visited Nottingham last week.
He said: “Despite the fact that my department had to take very big cuts I made the decision to put a lot more resources in apprenticeships because one of the problems the country has is a lack of appropriate skills.” The Post is looking for companies to take on apprentices as part of our Get Notts Working campaign.
It is a partnership between the Post, Notts and Derbyshire Chamber of Commerce, the National Apprenticeship Service, Notts City and County Employment and Skills Board, local councils and major companies like Laing O’Rourke.
Later this year, we will promote work experience and ask companies to take on unemployed people for a short period.
Anyone wanting to pledge to take on an apprentice can contact Jon Smart, of the chamber of commerce, at jonathan.smart @dncc.co.uk or 01246 207207
Paul Champion
www.paulchampionuk.com
www.apprenticeshipblog.com
📱: 07540 704920
Twitter: @blogapprentice
Skype: paulchampion31
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