PRESS RELEASE FROM ALISTAIR STRATHERN MP
TUESDAY 4th FEBRUARY 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Alistair Strathern, MP for the Hitchin constituency, spoke in Westminster today to pay tribute to fantastic apprenticeship providers locally, and to call for action to expand apprenticeships including action on functional skills and foundation apprenticeship schemes.
Strathern celebrated the work of Cadent, who train and upskill Hertfordshire young people to become gas engineers, and the Hitchin charity Amazing Apprenticeships.
Led by CEO and campaigner Anna Morrison CBE, Strathern hailed Amazing Apprenticeships work to help countless young people across the country into paid training and advocate for more ambitious action on inclusive apprenticeships nationally.
Having brought two now secretaries of state to Hitchin to see first-hand their respective work, Strathern was speaking in a Westminster Hall debate on the future of apprenticeships to continue his campaign for action.
He said that learning from these fantastic local examples, more action on apprenticeships was needed to ensure more young people could access apprenticeships. He highlighted the need to ensure action on functional skills and foundation apprenticeships to ensure some of the most vulnerable young people are able to access apprenticeships as a route into secure, well-paid work.
Alistair Strathern MP said:
“We're not going to have the construction skills needed to get Britain growing again from key infrastructure to affordable housing, without action on apprenticeships.
“I'm lucky to have some fantastic businesses and training providers across my constituency.
“It's clear speaking to them the true pride they take in the work they do, and the huge pride young people take in the opportunities available to them, but also the greater optimism that they now have for their own futures as a result of these apprenticeships.
“And that's an optimism I want more people in my constituency to be able to access.”
Editors Notes
Now Science and Technology Secretary, Peter Kyle, visited Cadent with Alistair last year. See here.
Now Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, visited Amazing Apprenticeships with Strathern last year. See here.
You can see pictures of these visits attached.
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