Chesterfield MP Toby, who serves as Shadow Skills Minister, has spoken of his support for apprentices and the contribution they make – and has outlined plans to ensure more people have the opportunity of workplace training.

National Apprenticeships Week, which began on 6th February, recognises the enormous contribution made by apprentices and their employers both here in Chesterfield, and nationwide, are giving people the chance to earn as they learn and delivering the skills our country needs to prosper.

In a series of events this week, in his constituency and further afield, Toby highlighted Labour’s policy to introduce a ‘Growth and Skills Levy’ in place of the existing apprenticeship levy.

This would ensure that funds ear-marked for skills would be fully utilised, whereas they are currently sent back to the Treasury unspent.

The Tories’ failure on skills is holding back our economy and preventing economic growth.

· On their watch apprenticeship starts have plummeted, with 200,000 fewer people starting these training opportunities.

· Over 11 million adults lack basic digital skills needed in our economy.

· Four in 10 young people are leaving education without the qualifications they need to get on.

Every year the Conservatives’ levy sees millions of pounds that should be used for skills training going unspent, even as businesses report growing skills shortages.

By expanding the training courses that levy money can be spent on, Labour will ensure businesses can use more of that money to get the skills they need, enabling adults and young people to gain new jobs or progress at work.

Toby stated “Boosting in skills and training opportunities will be essential to meeting the economic challenges we face and enabling people at every stage of their lives to learn, retrain and progress at work.

“This builds on Labour’s commitment to embed essential digital and life-skills across the school curriculum, and ensure all young people receive professional careers advice and work experience so they leave education ready for work and for life.”