Voters have been urged to remember the rise in apprenticeships when they go to the ballot box.
The plea came from Miles Trent, from the Lichfield Tamworth and Burton Liberal Democrats, who revealed that under the current government, 920 apprenticeships had started in Lichfield in 2013-14.
“All young people should have the opportunity to get on in life and apprenticeships are a great way to achieve that. New apprenticeships are also playing an integral part in Britain’s economic recovery,” he said.
“The last few years have been a difficult period, especially for young people gaining employment and developing a career. But the rise in apprenticeships is really good news which should be trumpeted.
“We read a lot of gloomy and bad news nowadays and I wanted to highlight this positive news for our area and its young people.”
Businesses can receive grants of up to £1,500 for taking on an apprentice – and Mr Trent believes people shouldn’t forget the role of his party in creating the opportunities.
“It is important to remember that the current focus on apprenticeships is very much a Liberal Democrat initiative,” he said.
“The previous Labour government concentrated on getting youngsters into university, not into apprenticeships. As for the Conservatives, they have tried to claim the credit for the surge in apprenticeships, but this was a Lib Dem manifesto priority and not a Tory one.”
The candidates standing in the Lichfield constituency in May are:
- Andy Bennetts – Class War
- Michael Fabricant – Conservatives
- Robert Pass – Green Party
- John Rackham – UKIP
- Paul Ray – Lib Dem
- Chris Worsey – Labour
