Students from Taunton Deane had a frank and open discussion with Nick Boles, Minister of State for Business, Innovation, Skills and Education at a special round table. The fact finding event with the Minister was organised by Prospective MP for Taunton Deane, Rebecca Pow, and held at Richard Huish Sixth Form College. Ranked within the top 5% of colleges in the country, and rated as ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted, it also has an associated Business Centre which oversees up to 600 apprenticeships a year. 

The students attending were aged between 16 and 18 and represented a wide variety of options for those looking to develop their skills. Some present were studying A-Levels and hoping to go on to University, while others were trainees getting work experience. There were also students on Level, 1, 2, and 3 apprenticeships with businesses throughout the constituency.

Speaking on the visit, Rebecca said: “This event illustrates the wide range of options there are available to young people now. And, whilst many may want to go down the University route, these students are showing that there are many successful ways of getting into the working world through apprenticeships and trainee schemes whether it is doing accountancy, IT, or customer services to name just a few options. The Conservatives have already seen 2 million apprenticeships established since 2010 and are committed to upping this to 4 million after the election by ensuring students can access these schemes and by offering £1500 to small companies taking on each  new apprentice. I would urge students to check out all the options available as this is an excellent way of skilling up and getting a job.”

The Minister was able to meet two care workers who had worked their way up from Level 1 to Level 3 apprenticeships and both been promoted as a result. But as well as the success stories, Nick Boles MP also heard a variety of concerns expressed by the youngsters, such as the existence of unpaid internships and VAT payable by sixth form colleges.

On the issue of unpaid internships, the Minister said: “I think it is completely outrageous and I think there should be legislation to prevent this. We need to be more assertive with companies abusing students in this way. Rebecca would support this view.”

After the visit, Nick Boles MP added: “I want to thank Rebecca Pow for inviting me to Richard Huish College in Taunton Deane, I learned a huge amount from the young people doing apprenticeships and taking A Levels at this outstanding College.”