Last night, local MP Caroline Dinenage welcomed Gosport apprentices and their employers to a parliamentary reception to thank them for their contributions to her local Get In Go Far campaign.
Since 2010 there have been over 11,000 apprenticeship starts in the Gosport constituency. The national average is only 4,900, meaning that Gosport has the third highest number of apprenticeship starts in the country. But Caroline launched her Get In Go Far campaign in the summer because she felt more could be done to raise the profile of apprenticeships in our local area and highlight the wealth of opportunities on offer.
Each week, local apprentices contributed a short biography, which Caroline published on her website. The fantastic submissions showcased everything from mechanical engineering and defence munitions apprenticeships to automotive journalism, tax collection, child and nursing care and microbiological laboratory.
The group enjoyed refreshments in historic surroundings and had the opportunity to take a tour of the Houses of Parliament and watch proceedings in the Commons and Lords from the public galleries. They were joined by the Minister for Apprenticeships and Skills, Rob Halfon MP, who praised the diversity of apprenticeship opportunities on offer in Gosport.
Commenting, Caroline said:
"I am always excited to welcome people from the Gosport constituency up to Parliament and this evening is no exception. It is a delight to host these fantastic apprentices and their employers and congratulate them for the work they do. Apprenticeships offer such amazing opportunities to learn the specialist skills needed to forge a rewarding career in a specific sector."
Speaking at the event, the Minister said:
"We need apprenticeships in our country to give young people that ladder of opportunity and improve the skills of our nation. It is brilliant to see so many employers and apprentices here tonight, including apprenticeship coordinators from Gosport's local Sixth-Form College – a fantastic model that could be replicated across the country. There is such a fantastic array of professions here tonight – I never knew Gosport was such an amazing place!"
