This National Apprenticeship Week, Sir Nicholas Soames is celebrating the really vital contribution of Apprentices in Mid Sussex.

Since 2010 there have been 4160 Apprenticeship starts in Mid Sussex, and over 1.2 million new Apprenticeship starts nationally since 2015. Take up of higher-level Apprenticeships in 2016-17 was up by nearly 35 per cent compared to 2015 -16.

Apprenticeships are at the heart of the Conservative Government's strategy to expand opportunity and develop the skilled workforce the country needs. This includes working with industry to deliver an ambitious target of 3 million new apprenticeship starts by 2020.

But we know there is still more to do, and we have recently launched an education and funding review that will help people make more effective choices between the different options available to them, promoting parity of esteem between technical and academic pathways.

Commenting, Sir Nicholas; "Apprenticeships allow people to earn while they learn, and open doors to highly skilled, rewarding careers. This Government's reforms are not only increasing apprenticeship numbers, but also driving up the quality of apprenticeships, meaning they have real value in the jobs market. Only the Conservatives are working hard to ensure everyone can get on in life, and go as far as their talents and hard work can take them. This is very important for the future of young people in Mid Sussex as they set about making their way in the world."