Birmingham is among the five cities to take part in the Government’s campaign to promote the take-up of apprenticeships among under-represented groups.
It was reported this month that the Midlands hub would join Manchester, London, Bristol and Leicester in taking on young professionals from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) and other disadvantaged backgrounds.
The “5 Cities Project” was launched by Apprenticeships and Skills Minister Anne Milton.
“I’m thrilled by the strong support we have received for this project. It’s great to be working together on our drive to make sure that everyone, whatever their background, can get onto an apprenticeship at whatever level suits them,” she said.
“Apprenticeships are a great route into skilled employment and allow people to earn while they learn. We want it to be easy as possible to get on an apprenticeship, so that everyone can benefit from the excellent career prospects that apprenticeships offer.”
Director of the National Apprenticeship Service Sue Husband added “It cannot be right in this day and age that BAME individuals in England are, overall, less likely to be successful in their apprenticeship applications than their white counterparts- yet sadly this is what the statistics do show. It is critical that we capture the talent of individuals from all backgrounds, and proactively work to remove any barriers that do exist – and that is why the 5 Cities Project is so important.”
UK employers, including B&Q, Rolls Royce, Optimity and Interserve, as well as local authorities and schools and community groups have also pledged to join the campaign.
MFG Solicitors can advise on employment and workplace disputes. For more information about how we could help you, please contact us.
Comments