Apprenticeship challenge launches tonight

A campaign to encourage businesses in Gloucestershire to take on apprentices and to showcase their efforts is to be launched tonight in the presence of a Government minister.

The Citizen and Gloucestershire Echo, the daily newspaper for Gloucester and Cheltenham, and Gloucestershire College, are to launch the 100inONEHUNDRED challenge at Cheltenham's Hotel Du Vin.

Mr Iain Wright MP, Parliamentary under Secretary of State for 14-19 Reform and Apprenticeships from the Department of Children, Schools and Families, is due to attend the launch as a show of the Government's support for the initiative.

Mr Wright said: "I am delighted to be supporting this initiative to encourage more employers in Gloucestershire to experience for themselves the many benefits which result from investing in apprenticeship training.

"We have seen a huge revival in Apprenticeships over the past decade, from 65,000 in 1997 to 240,000 today, providing tens of thousands of businesses with the skilled workforce they need now and in the future.

"I wish all the Gloucestershire Colleges, and other partners in this campaign, every success in their target to recruit 100 new Apprentices in the next 100 days."

The aim of the campaign is to raise the profile and importance of apprenticeships and champion the firms running training schemes. Its target is to find and showcase 100 apprentices in 100 days.

Mr Wright's principal policy areas cover apprenticeships, 14-19 qualifications strategy, 16-19 funding, work-based learning, young people not in education, employment or training (NEET), the Young People’s Learning Agency (YPLA) and the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA).

To find out more about the launch event contact Michelle Louth, communications and events manager at Gloucestershire College on 01452 563216 or Mob: 07713 636859.