EDUCATION Secretary Bridget Phillipson launched a new scheme to boost apprenticeships as she visited the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station construction site.
Ms Phillipson also met Bridgwater and Taunton College apprentices who have been working on Britain’s first new nuclear build for a generation.
Her visit to West Somerset was part of a promotion for National Apprenticeship Week, during which the Government announced sweeping reforms, including more flexibility for employers around English and mathematics requirements which it said would lead to an extra 10,000 apprentices qualifying annually in key sectors such as construction, healthcare, and clean energy.
Ms Phillipson announced a range of new apprenticeship schemes, including wind turbine technician and heat network maintenance technician, which she said were key sectors to support the Government’s ‘clean energy mission’.
She said: “We need to take skills seriously as a country again, and the measures we have taken this week to slash red tape and boost the number of apprentices, show how we will deliver on this and break down the barriers to opportunity for our young people.
“Apprenticeships are key to delivering our number one mission of growth and on the Prime Minister’s ‘Plan for Change’, as evidenced today by their increasing value to the economy, which will continue to rise thanks to our reforms.
“It is vital that schools, colleges and businesses continue to champion apprenticeships, and this Government will back them all the way.”
Ms Phillipson said a cut in the minimum duration of apprenticeships from 12 to eight months would help put ‘boots on the ground’ more quickly where workers had previous experience.
Simpler ‘End Point Assessments’ and a reformed payment system would free up time for providers and employers to focus on career and skills development for apprentices.
New and updated apprenticeships for police officers, teaching assistants, healthcare support workers, dental hygienists, and civil engineers meant a total of 660 occupations were now available.
The Government also launched a new ‘one stop shop’ app to revolutionise how apprentices access training and support.
The Minister’s Hinkley C visit followed Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s announcement of reforms to planning rules to make it easier to build new nuclear power stations, which should create thousands of new highly-skilled jobs while ‘delivering clean, secure, and more affordable energy for working people’.
Minister for Industry Sarah Jones said: “The shift to home-grown, clean energy is creating thousands of apprentices with world-class experience.
“Hinkley Point C alone has provided 1,500 new apprenticeships, helping to make the UK a clean energy superpower, give us energy security, and protect bill payers.”
A Bridgwater and Taunton College spokesperson said: “We were delighted to welcome the Education Secretary to our National College for Nuclear southern hub.
“We had the opportunity of showcasing our training programmes and qualifications that are designed to meet the needs of the industry.
“Whether it is an entry-level programme for a school leaver, apprenticeship, professional development course, or degree-level qualification, our learners are well-prepared to meet the skills needed for the future of clean energy.”