News from Sheffield Labour

Sheffield’s Blomfield and Caborn welcome massive rise in apprenticeships

Paul Blomfield, Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for Sheffield Central, and Richard Caborn MP have welcomed figures showing a huge rise in the number of people completing apprenticeships in Sheffield Central constituency. The number of people completing apprenticeships in Sheffield Central has risen from 60 in 2004 to 170 in 2008 – a rise of 183% in just 4 years.

As part of National Apprenticeship Week and to celebrate the revival of apprenticeships, Paul Blomfield and Richard Caborn MP visited Robert Clark & Sons, steel fabricators based in Neepsend, to meet local apprentices.

Paul Blomfield is warning that the Conservatives’ plans for cuts in public spending mean apprenticeships are under threat. The Conservatives have committed to cutting £910m from spending on education and skills. These cuts could mean not a single person over 19 in Sheffield Central would be able to start an apprenticeship next year.

Paul Blomfield said:

“Apprenticeships are a great way for young people and adults to get on in life by receiving on the job training. I’m really pleased that in the last few years the number of people completing apprenticeships in Sheffield Central has nearly tripled from 60 in 2004 to 170 last year.

“Labour is expanding apprenticeships so that soon every suitably qualified young person will have the right to an apprenticeship if they want one. This is great news which will provide vital training for our young people and boost Sheffield’s industries. The Tories are planning to cut funding for apprenticeships which would be terrible news for Sheffield.”

Richard Caborn MP said:

“I was an apprentice in Sheffield’s engineering industry so it was great to meet the young apprentices who are learning the skills we need to continue to have a world-class steel and engineering industry in Sheffield. The Labour Government has reintroduced apprenticeships to make sure our manufacturing industries have the skilled personnel for the future. The quality of the apprenticeships now on offer to our young people is first class, enabling them to meet the challenges of the high-tech future. I am really pleased to see Robert Clark & Sons continuing to invest in young people’s futures along with companies like Forgemasters and many others.”

Other news from Sheffield Labour

• Station Bridge roundtable with Transport Ministers announced - 8 February 2012
• Paul Blomfield MP slams Tory "ambush" of Government Fair Access Director - 8 February 2012
• Angela Smith MP highlights economic problems faced by Barnsley - 7 February 2012