George presses for apprenticeship support for small businesses

West Cornwall MP, Andrew George, urged a Government Minister to help small businesses in West Cornwall who want to create apprenticeships.  Since 2010, the Liberal Democrats in Coalition have created over 2million new apprenticeships across the country, with 780 set up in the West Cornwall and Isles of Scilly constituency in 2013 and 670 established in the area last year.

These opportunities have provided jobs and in-work training across sectors including agriculture, business, health and engineering.  The Apprenticeship Grant has been introduced to provide small businesses with £1500 for the first apprenticeship they set up.  However, challenges remain for small and rural businesses in recruiting apprentices.

Mr George said, “I welcome the creation of hundreds of new apprenticeships in West Cornwall. The introduction of the apprenticeship grant for small businesses towards meeting the costs of employing apprentices will help.  Apprenticeships provide benefits both for businesses and for the young person gaining employment and training.  However, West Cornwall has a high number of small businesses which face distinct challenges which larger businesses do not face when seeking to recruit apprentices.  More needs to be done to help rural and small businesses create apprenticeships.