Last week was National Apprenticeships Week, an opportunity to celebrate apprentices and the impact they have on our communities and economy.

In Crawley, we are rated as the strongest area in the South East for creating apprenticeships, an achievement that is partly to do with the sheer density of employment options within Crawley’s boundaries.

But even despite this relative success, the Tories have been letting down our area with over a decade of decline in opportunities.

In 2010 the number of apprenticeships in Crawley had built up to 770, but the numbers have plateaued and even declined over the last 14 years of Tory rule to 730, as the Tories have failed to equip individuals and the economy with the skills to meet national challenges including transition to net zero and rising demand for digital skills.

Other parts of the country, sadly, have seen the figures fall even more dramatically.  The work in re-establishing apprenticeships by the last Labour Government should have been built on, not left to wither on the vine by the Tories.

The Conservatives’ failure on skills is holding back our economy and preventing economic growth. Their short-sighted approach means too many young people are leaving education without the qualifications they need.  Our public services have growing skills shortages; businesses are being held back, unable to fill job vacancies.

Labour will give businesses the flexibility to train their workforce and deliver growth. We will reform the Tories’ failed apprenticeships levy, recruit over a thousand new careers advisors and deliver work experience for every young person, paid for by ending private schools’ tax breaks, ensuring they leave education ready for work and ready for life.

Boosting Britain’s skills will be a key priority for Labour. We will spread decision-making on skills spending out to local communities, so they can match up skills training with local businesses’ needs, growing local and regional economies across England.

These reforms will boost the talents and abilities of the British people so we can strengthen our economy and face the future.  That’s the difference a Labour government will make.

Cllr Michael Jones

Leader, Crawley Borough Council