10th February, 2012

Dear Sir,

Today marks the end of National Apprenticeship Week and it provides us with a great opportunity to congratulate apprentices and the firms offering apprenticeships across Mid Sussex on the fantastic work they are doing and to highlight the huge benefits apprenticeships bring.

Apprenticeships allow people to earn and learn at the same time, while significantly increasing their employability and potential future earnings. But the benefits go wider than that – every £1 spent on an apprenticeship returns an estimated benefit of £18 to the economy.

Conservatives are making sure that young people who don’t want to go to university can still carry on learning and developing their skills. By investing in high-quality apprenticeships, we are also equipping the workforce with the skills our economy needs in the 21st century.

That’s why it is such great news that 220 more young people in Mid Sussex started an apprenticeship last year thanks to the Coalition’s extra investment – a 73.3% increase on the previous year.

I would urge people of all ages to consider becoming an apprentice and seize the opportunities that this Government has opened up.

Yours,

Nicholas Soames MP