Chloe SmithMP for Norwich North
Chloe Smith
Member of Parliament for Norwich North, Chloe Smith, today launched a new drive to help young people into jobs in the City.
To mark National Apprenticeships Week, Chloe will be visiting businesses in the City to raise awareness of the business benefits of providing an apprenticeship scheme. She will also be talking to young people as they prepare to leave education, and hosting a youth-themed surgery to provide information on how young people can seek the skills and opportunities they need for work.
Speaking ahead of National Apprenticeship Week (6-10 February), Chloe reiterated the pressing need to provide young people with the opportunities to develop the skills they need for the world of work.
Chloe commented:
“First of all, we need to help businesses grow and create jobs - step by step, one by one. If a business can take on one extra person, that means a job for someone. My single biggest priority for this year as a local MP is to help businesses do that.
“Secondly, we need young people to be ready to work.
“Young people want to work, and there are opportunities out there for them. I too often find that both young people and their potential employers are unaware of how much help is now available to help young people into employment.
“I urge businesses in Norwich of all sizes to look at the potential benefits of providing apprenticeships. You can see more here: http://www.apprenticeships.org.uk/, even including a ready reckoner for the return in pounds and pence that your company could get by hiring an apprentice.
“But I want to hear from young people too. Tell me what holds you back from work. Lack of opportunities? Not sure how to get the right qualification? I want to hear from you so that we can all pull together – young people, businesses, colleges, politicians, and the Norwich community – to solve this problem.
“Helping businesses to grow and young people into jobs is the single biggest issue for me as a local MP this year. It’s too important to be ignored.”
To better understand some of the barriers faced by young people and their potential employers, Chloe is working in close partnership with City College Norwich and local employers.
They highlight the proven benefits of hiring an apprentice, and underline the aspirations and concerns of young people as they seek employment.
Dick Palmer, Principal of City College Norwich commented:
“City College Norwich aims to give all of our students access to experiencing the world of work, whilst they study at the college, and we provide around 1,500 work placements/internships a year which support this aim of student employability. We also support around 800 current Apprentices and are working with the Gazelle group of colleges to look at two new forms of placement – an enternship and intrapreneur – which look to develop the entrepreneurial skills of our students whilst in the workplace.”
Andrew Barnes, Managing Director of Howes Percival commented:
"It is obvious that apprenticeships can bring real benefits to businesses and it is not surprising that the number of apprenticeships has increased significantly over the last year or so. The National Apprenticeships Week is clearly an important chance for Norfolk businesses to link up with talented young people who can learn the skills the businesses need to improve their bottom line".
Julia Nix, District Manager, East Anglia District Jobcentre Plus commented:
“I am absolutely delighted that Chloe has committed to work closely with Jobcentre Plus to help the young people of Norwich. She will be involved on a practical level engaging with young people to understand the barriers they face whilst looking for work in today's job market.
“Working together we will ensure that our young people have a voice and the opportunity to influence how Jobcentre Plus services are delivered to them in their local area.
“We are keen to work with partner organisations and employers to support our commitment to young people and would invite anyone interested to contact us.”