31-10-2007
Brown to offer new grants for apprenticeships
News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of business insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages.
The prime minister Gordon Brown is set to announce new grants for young apprentices, it has emerged, to include trades such as construction and plumbing.
According to reports by the BBC, Mr Brown is expected to announce during a forthcoming education speech that, should an 18-year-old take the decision to enrol on an apprenticeship rather than attend university, they will become eligible for a credit payment of between £3,000 and £15,000.
Higher payments will be awarded to individuals embarking upon apprenticeships in sectors involving high costs.
"There are many examples of managers and directors in businesses today who started out as apprentices," Mark Fisher, chief executive of the Sector Skills Development Agency, told the Guardian.
"Apprenticeships provide specific work-based skills at levels appropriate to different sectors," he added.
During his speech, Mr Brown is also expected to offer encouragement to schools to offer greater levels of feedback, through channels such as meetings, parents' sessions and email.
It is also expected that parents will be advised to increase their levels of involvement.