Minister urges firm to grow their own ‘loyal’ apprentices

Representative: Ms Milton hoped to increase the number of 'people like me'
Safeeyah Kazi7 March 2018

Businesses must see apprenticeships as an opportunity to “grow their own talent”, a minister said today.

Anne Milton, the minister for skills and apprenticeships, said young people taken on under apprenticeship schemes showed a “loyalty” to their companies.

She told the Standard: “Businesses need to see apprentices as an opportunity for them, as the apprentices giving them something. “Why not grow your own talent? The loyalty of apprentices… is so strong.”

Ms Milton was speaking to an apprentice from the Standard at an event marking the start of National Apprenticeship Week.

She added that she had an “open door” for businesses who wanted to develop schemes for young people.

The Tory MP also spoke of her own personal experience battling diversity in public sectors, at the event hosted by tech start-up WhiteHat.

The organisation specialises in pairing young people with UK companies creating a set of skills to rival that of a university-level education.

She said: “I went into politics because I felt like there weren’t enough women like me. I just felt like a lot more people like me should be represented.

“I feel really passionately about the fact that you don’t have to go to university [to be successful].”

Founder and chief executive of White-Hat Euan Blair said: “We need to get more people on board with apprenticeships.

“There are genuinely incredible stories that should be shared by everyone.”

Last year, the Evening Standard and Independent hired a number of apprentices as part of their editorial diversity bursary scheme.

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