Ian attends Tees Valley Apprenticeship Programme launch

5.19.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 26th Jul 2010

Ian attended the Tees Valley Apprenticeship Programme launch at Wilton on Friday, along with delegates from local organisations and potential recruiters.

The project is designed to support the economy of the Tees Valley through a package of industrial support, enterprise and training, operating from April 2010 through to March 2012. The program is being taken forward through eight work streams, comprising a mix of strategic and tactical projects.

The project will be able to support over 150 engineering apprenticeships. The Skills Academy will manage Tees Valley Apprenticeship program funding designed to accommodate apprentices to complete their frameworks and to sustain their prospects of employment in Tees Valley. As such, all employers providing industry relevant products and services from premises located in Tees Valley, or are hosting engineering apprentices from the Tees Valley are eligible to participate.

Ian said "I am delighted that the Tees Valley Apprenticeship project has been allocated funding. It is vital that we train people for the jobs of the future. The project will provide continuity even when employers have problems. This is so important for young people as we have seen through the Corus situation. Employers need a skilled work force and this generation of apprentices will be well placed to take up the exciting opportunities that will come from both existing businesses and new investors in the coming years."

Ian is happy to see that there is investment into bringing the next generation into industry on Teesside, which is of great concern to Ian having worked in the chemical industry on Teesside for many years and hopes the scheme will help the shortage of skilled employment in the constituency.