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Attention: Education and industrial correspondents

Boost for apprentices in Yorkshire and the Humber

Apprentices in northern England will receive a boost today (Thursday) thanks to a booklet published by the TUC and the Learning and Skills Council (LSC). The booklet for union reps will be launched by Ivan Lewis MP, Minister for Skills and Vocational Education, at the TUC’s regional Learning Services Regional Conference in Leeds.

‘Apprenticeships: A guide for union reps and negotiators’ will arm both unions and employers with the information and guidance needed to increase the number of apprenticeship places in the UK. It is part of the TUC’s national campaign to raise the profile of apprentices and today’s launch represents a concerted regional drive to encourage unions and employers to offer more for apprentices.

The booklet will also play a crucial role in debunking certain myths around apprenticeships. Ivan Lewis will tell the conference that apprenticeships are now at their highest ever level of just over 240,000, with 23,000 in the Yorkshire and Humber region alone.

Apprenticeships are now available in over 160 sectors and unions are in a strong position to influence the apprenticeship programme at every stage, says the new booklet.

The TUC believes that union learning reps are doing a great job promoting learning at work and encouraging employers to take on apprentices. The new booklet highlights how union reps can help ensure high quality apprenticeship programmes are run and includes suggestions on what unions can include in learning agreements to help apprentices get the best possible deal.

To help boost the take-up of apprenticeships, the booklet emphasises how employers can benefit from the new apprenticeship schemes:

· Organisations offering apprenticeships are viewed as good places to work

· The training elements of apprenticeships are Government-funded

· Employers who take on apprentices are taking a long-term view of their business

· Intermediate level skills gaps can be filled by taking on apprentices

· Union support for apprentices can lead to increased retention.

Commenting on the new booklet, TUC Deputy General Secretary, Frances O’Grady, said: 'Unions have a fine tradition of leading the way in learning at work and increasing opportunities for workers. The new apprenticeship programmes represent a fantastic opportunity for union reps to negotiate improvements in employers’ approaches to learning in the workplace. This booklet will equip them with all the necessary tools to start those negotiations.'

Ivan Lewis MP, Minister for Skills and Vocational Education, said: ' The new booklet demonstrates how unions, from representatives on the ground to national officers, can increase business involvement in apprenticeships. This builds on the highly successful Union Learning Fund and the invaluable work of the network of Union Learning Representatives, now with over 8,000 trained. '

NOTES TO EDITORS:

- The TUC Learning Services Regional Conference starts at 10am at the Hilton Hotel, Neville Street, Leeds.

- To attend contact Gina Greenley at ggreenley@tuc.org.uk or on 0113 245 4909.

- Ivan Lewis, Minister for Skills and Vocational Education, will speak at 10:15am. Other speakers include Paul Jagger, TUC Regional Secretary and David Lee, HR Training Manager of local firm Corus, who will explain the advantages fo the apprenticeship schemes from the employers’ perspective.

- All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk

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pre-embargo releases and reports from the TUC. Visit www.tuc.org.uk/pressextranet

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Contacts:

Media enquiries : Dan Ashley T: 020 7467 1372; M: 07880 504 846; E: dashley@tuc.org.uk

To speak to Ivan Lewis contact Jill Chesworth in the regional DfES press office on 01928 794 252 or at jill.chesworth@dfes.gsi.gov.uk

Press release (700 words) issued 3 Feb 2005