Today’s Education in the Media blog focuses on the start of National Apprenticeship Week, as well as the Schools Minister talking about World Book Day.
National Apprenticeship Week
Today, Monday 4 March, marks the start of National Apprenticeship Week – this is coordinated by the National Apprenticeship Service and is designed to celebrate apprenticeships and their positive impact on people, businesses and the economy.
There has been media coverage already from the Independent, the Telegraph, the Metro, the Mirror and City AM on various apprenticeship stories – including Co-Op Funeralcare taking on over 70s on apprenticeship schemes, and McDonald’s launching £2m investment into improved apprenticeships.
We have also announced a new leader board and quality mark to celebrate top apprenticeship firms – this has been covered by TES.
Apprenticeships offer people of all ages and backgrounds a high quality route to skilled employment, including the option to gain a degree. Apprentices get paid while they train and can start a great career in a huge range of industries including cyber security, aerospace engineering and digital marketing.
Education Secretary Damian Hinds said:
We’ve transformed apprenticeships in this country. But that wouldn’t have been possible without the employers who have been at the forefront of developing new high- quality apprenticeship opportunities that provide great training, and the employers who have embraced the huge benefits apprenticeships are bringing to their workplaces.
This National Apprenticeship Week, I want to celebrate their contribution - giving thousands of people of all ages and backgrounds the opportunity to learn new skills and secure an exciting career.
World Book Day
Yesterday, Sunday 3 March, the Sunday Telegraph ran an interview with the Schools Minister Nick Gibb in advance of World Book Day, which takes place later this week on Thursday 7 March.
In the interview, the Minister spoke about his love for reading, and the importance of children practicing their reading throughout education. He also used this interview to emphasise the importance of taking in a wide array of English literature and noted some of his personal favourite books and authors.
You can read the full feature piece here.