LSBU attends apprenticeship fair during National Apprenticeship Week 2020
The event showcased national apprenticeship success stories and introduced an ‘apprenticeship toolkit’ to support MPs wanting to set up similar events in their own constituenciesAs part of National Apprenticeships Week (3-7 February), LSBU apprentices and staff attended a fair hosted by the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Apprenticeships. The event showcased national apprenticeship success stories and introduced an ‘apprenticeship toolkit’ to support MPs wanting to set up similar events in their own constituencies.
As a university that is committed to delivering high quality apprenticeship courses for a diverse range of students, London South Bank University (LSBU) has been a sponsor of the APPG for the last two years and is the first university to sponsor the group.
Among those who made speeches were APPG co-Chairs Gillian Keegan MP and Karin Smyth MP, Chair of the Education Select Committee, Robert Halfon MP and recently appointed Shadow further and higher education minister, Emma Hardy MP. Each spoke of their own personal commitment to promoting the diverse range of apprenticeships available across the country.
Over 30 MPs and Lords attended the event and were given an opportunity to speak to current apprentices, including Taylor Jo Ryan who is studying for an HNC in Civil Engineering while working for Thames Tideway and Shaun Jinks who is studying for a BEng in Civil Engineering while working for Transport for London.
Parliamentarians, including Emma Hardy MP and former Secretary of State for Education, Damian Hinds MP spoke to the apprentices about their reasons for choosing the apprenticeship route over a degree or full-time employment, explaining that it gives them the opportunity to earn while they learn, providing them with real world experience, while gaining qualifications to help advance their careers.
Speaking at the event, Gillian Keegan MP said: “I was delighted to be able to host this apprenticeships fair in Parliament for National Apprenticeship Week and hear from so many great organisations about the fantastic work they’re undertaking on apprenticeships.”
Read about LSBU’s diversity in apprenticeship drive, launched during NAW 2020.