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46829

registered interest
date	03/04/2014
answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept id	26
answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many apprentices aged (a) 16 to 18, (b) 19 to 24 and (c) 25 years or over are employed at each of his Department's executive agencies, non-departmental public bodies and associated bodies and agencies.
tabling member constituency	Streatham
tabling member printed	Mr Chuka Umunna
uin	195212
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/04/2014 answer text <p>I have asked chief executives of the Executive agencies to respond directly to the Hon Member.</p><p> </p><p>Until 2013, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills did not keep a record of the age of internal apprentices. The table shows the age of both externally recruited apprentices since 2010 and ages of those apprentices embarking on the Departments' internal apprenticeship programme in 2013. The 2013 figure refers to the ages of those on the Departments' internal programme. There are no externally recruited apprentices in the 25 years or over category.</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>2010</p></td><td><p>2011</p></td><td><p>2012</p></td><td><p>2013</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>16 to 18</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>1</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>19 to 24</p></td><td><p>2</p></td><td><p>1</p></td><td><p>2</p></td><td><p>11</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>25 years or over</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>16</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>The Department for Business Innovation and Skills currently has 53 apprentices. We have had 4 successful completions this year.</p><p> </p><p>16 of these 53 apprentices are under the age of 21 with a further 6 apprentices under 21 expected to join the Department later in the year.</p> answering member constituency West Suffolk answering member printed Matthew Hancock question first answered 29/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4070 label Biography information for Matt Hancock attachment 1 file name 195212 - Executive Agencies.pdf title Letters from BIS' Executive Agencies (9)
tabling member	4128 label Biography information for Chuka Umunna

47122

registered interest
date	07/04/2014
answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept id	26
answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of reform of apprenticeships resulting from the Richard Review on the cost of training new (a) ratings and (b) officer cadets in the maritime industry; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	North Ayrshire and Arran
tabling member printed	Katy Clark
uin	195525
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/04/2014 answer text <p>Different apprenticeship programmes operate in England and Scotland. Doug Richard's Review focused on English apprenticeships and he made a number of recommendations to make the programme more rigorous and responsive to employers' needs. The Government accepted the Richard Review principles and set out its apprenticeship reform programme in the October 2013 Implementation Plan.</p><p> </p><p>The reforms include employers developing new apprenticeship standards, requiring employers to co-invest, putting the Government funding for the external training and assessment of apprentices in the hands of their employers and setting maximum Government contribution levels. With direct access to funding, employers will be able to negotiate a price for the training with their provider, and this means it is not possible in advance of the reforms to say what the costs of training apprentices in specific occupations will be.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Maritime sector has a long tradition of apprenticeships which we wish to continue. English apprenticeships are currently available for Maritime occupations and employers in the sector are currently designing a new apprenticeship standard for ratings as part of our Phase 2 Trailblazer programme.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has recognised through Alternative Completion Conditions Regulations that, in some maritime occupations, apprentices may be trainees rather than employees. The apprenticeships funding reform technical consultation is open until 1 May 2014 and this includes a question about how, or to what extent, the new funding principles and mechanism can be applied to non-employed apprentices.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency West Suffolk answering member printed Matthew Hancock question first answered 29/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4070 label Biography information for Matt Hancock
tabling member	1590 label Biography information for Baroness Clark of Kilwinning

48188

registered interest
date	10/04/2014
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to promote the reputation and status of youth work.
tabling member constituency	Bethnal Green and Bow
tabling member printed	Rushanara Ali
uin	196223
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/04/2014 answer text <p>Responsibility for youth policy, including youth work, transferred to Cabinet Office on 3 July 2013. Cabinet Office co-ordinates cross-government work on youth policy and is also responsible for policy on international youth issues, youth voice and democracy, and the role of local authorities as well as working with the youth sector.</p><p>The Department for Education continues its commitment to all young people through its responsibilities for education and children's services in England; and works closely with the rest of government on key issues such as reducing risky behaviour and increasing participation in education, employment and training.</p> answering member constituency West Suffolk answering member printed Matthew Hancock question first answered 29/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4070 label Biography information for Matt Hancock
tabling member	4138 label Biography information for Rushanara Ali

47878

registered interest
date	09/04/2014
answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept id	26
answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with reference to Growth is Our Business: A Strategy for Professional and Business Services published in July 2013, what progress his Department has made in establishing the effect of school reporting metrics on the prestige of higher apprenticeships as a destination.
tabling member constituency	Hartlepool
tabling member printed	Mr Iain Wright
uin	195984
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2014 answer text <p>These questions ask about a number of actions related to skills development from “Growth is our business: a strategy for professional and business services”, published in July 2013 as part of Government's industrial strategy. The strategy was developed in collaboration with the professional and business services sector, focusing on the industry's agenda for long term growth. It is led by the Professional and Business Services Council.</p><p> </p><p>The strategy reflects two key business priorities in skills development. First, to expand recruitment routes into the sector, in particular higher apprenticeships, to access a wider, more diverse talent pool. Second, to help businesses engage with the education system to raise aspirations and promote work readiness. A business-led skills taskforce for professional and business services has been established. It is developing approaches to implement the strategy and will report progress at the end of this year.</p><p> </p><p>The skills taskforce is leading work to help towards the strategy's ambitious target to treble the number of higher apprenticeship starts across professional and business services to 10,000 over five years; and to follow progress in the interim, so that the numbers of these apprenticeships can be monitored. As a first step, the taskforce is supporting the London Professional Apprenticeship scheme, which was launched in December 2013, and is now recruiting apprentices and employers to take part. The scheme will pilot the proposal for a “clearing house” to help small firms access higher apprenticeships in professional and business services. In addition, the taskforce is backing new ‘trailblazer' initiatives, announced in March 2014, to develop employer-driven standards for apprenticeships in several professional and business services occupations.</p><p> </p><p>The skills taskforce is currently researching the metrics for schools' reporting and their effect on the prestige of higher apprenticeships as initial career destinations. It will consider if more could be done to ensure higher apprenticeships have parity of esteem with higher education.</p><p> </p><p>The taskforce is also mapping current school engagement activity involving professional and business services firms with a view to identifying and sharing good practice.</p><p> </p><p>The new emphasis on wider use of higher apprenticeships across professional and business services should contribute towards a greater diversity of routes into these careers in the years to come; potentially offering opportunities to a wider pool of talent.</p><p> </p><p>The skills taskforce intends to consider how the employability of young people can be supported within the national curriculum, but believes that greater engagement between employers and young people is the best way of improving employability skills.</p><p> </p><p>My noble friend Lord Lingfield has set up the independent Institution for Further Education to take forward work on a new chartered status quality schemeand is considering the application and assessment process for Further Education providers.</p><p> </p><p>The skills taskforce is exploring how web-based services can support engagement between firms and the education sector, including a planned digital “inspiration” tool being developed by this Department to encourage business-schools engagement.</p><p> </p><p>Further information on the implementation of “Growth is our business: a strategy for professional and business services” is included in a progress report on industrial strategy, published on 23 April 2014: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/industrial-strategy-early-successes-and-future-priorities" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/industrial-strategy-early-successes-and-future-priorities</a>.</p> answering member constituency West Suffolk answering member printed Matthew Hancock grouped question UIN 195985 195987 195989 195990 195991 195992 195993 question first answered 30/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4070 label Biography information for Matt Hancock
tabling member	1478 label Biography information for Mr Iain Wright

47879

registered interest
date	09/04/2014
answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept id	26
answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with reference to Growth is Our Business: A Strategy for Professional and Business Services published in July 2013, what progress his Department has made in increasing the number of higher apprenticeships in the professional and business services sector.
tabling member constituency	Hartlepool
tabling member printed	Mr Iain Wright
uin	195989
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2014 answer text <p>These questions ask about a number of actions related to skills development from “Growth is our business: a strategy for professional and business services”, published in July 2013 as part of Government's industrial strategy. The strategy was developed in collaboration with the professional and business services sector, focusing on the industry's agenda for long term growth. It is led by the Professional and Business Services Council.</p><p> </p><p>The strategy reflects two key business priorities in skills development. First, to expand recruitment routes into the sector, in particular higher apprenticeships, to access a wider, more diverse talent pool. Second, to help businesses engage with the education system to raise aspirations and promote work readiness. A business-led skills taskforce for professional and business services has been established. It is developing approaches to implement the strategy and will report progress at the end of this year.</p><p> </p><p>The skills taskforce is leading work to help towards the strategy's ambitious target to treble the number of higher apprenticeship starts across professional and business services to 10,000 over five years; and to follow progress in the interim, so that the numbers of these apprenticeships can be monitored. As a first step, the taskforce is supporting the London Professional Apprenticeship scheme, which was launched in December 2013, and is now recruiting apprentices and employers to take part. The scheme will pilot the proposal for a “clearing house” to help small firms access higher apprenticeships in professional and business services. In addition, the taskforce is backing new ‘trailblazer' initiatives, announced in March 2014, to develop employer-driven standards for apprenticeships in several professional and business services occupations.</p><p> </p><p>The skills taskforce is currently researching the metrics for schools' reporting and their effect on the prestige of higher apprenticeships as initial career destinations. It will consider if more could be done to ensure higher apprenticeships have parity of esteem with higher education.</p><p> </p><p>The taskforce is also mapping current school engagement activity involving professional and business services firms with a view to identifying and sharing good practice.</p><p> </p><p>The new emphasis on wider use of higher apprenticeships across professional and business services should contribute towards a greater diversity of routes into these careers in the years to come; potentially offering opportunities to a wider pool of talent.</p><p> </p><p>The skills taskforce intends to consider how the employability of young people can be supported within the national curriculum, but believes that greater engagement between employers and young people is the best way of improving employability skills.</p><p> </p><p>My noble friend Lord Lingfield has set up the independent Institution for Further Education to take forward work on a new chartered status quality schemeand is considering the application and assessment process for Further Education providers.</p><p> </p><p>The skills taskforce is exploring how web-based services can support engagement between firms and the education sector, including a planned digital “inspiration” tool being developed by this Department to encourage business-schools engagement.</p><p> </p><p>Further information on the implementation of “Growth is our business: a strategy for professional and business services” is included in a progress report on industrial strategy, published on 23 April 2014: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/industrial-strategy-early-successes-and-future-priorities" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/industrial-strategy-early-successes-and-future-priorities</a>.</p> answering member constituency West Suffolk answering member printed Matthew Hancock grouped question UIN 195984 195985 195987 195990 195991 195992 195993 question first answered 30/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4070 label Biography information for Matt Hancock
tabling member	1478 label Biography information for Mr Iain Wright

47880

registered interest
date	09/04/2014
answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept id	26
answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with reference to Growth is Our Business: A Strategy for Professional and Business Services published in July 2013, what progress his Department has made in (a) developing a clearing house for professional and business services higher apprenticeship applicants and (b) helping small and medium-sized enterprises access this talent pool.
tabling member constituency	Hartlepool
tabling member printed	Mr Iain Wright
uin	195985
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2014 answer text <p>These questions ask about a number of actions related to skills development from “Growth is our business: a strategy for professional and business services”, published in July 2013 as part of Government's industrial strategy. The strategy was developed in collaboration with the professional and business services sector, focusing on the industry's agenda for long term growth. It is led by the Professional and Business Services Council.</p><p> </p><p>The strategy reflects two key business priorities in skills development. First, to expand recruitment routes into the sector, in particular higher apprenticeships, to access a wider, more diverse talent pool. Second, to help businesses engage with the education system to raise aspirations and promote work readiness. A business-led skills taskforce for professional and business services has been established. It is developing approaches to implement the strategy and will report progress at the end of this year.</p><p> </p><p>The skills taskforce is leading work to help towards the strategy's ambitious target to treble the number of higher apprenticeship starts across professional and business services to 10,000 over five years; and to follow progress in the interim, so that the numbers of these apprenticeships can be monitored. As a first step, the taskforce is supporting the London Professional Apprenticeship scheme, which was launched in December 2013, and is now recruiting apprentices and employers to take part. The scheme will pilot the proposal for a “clearing house” to help small firms access higher apprenticeships in professional and business services. In addition, the taskforce is backing new ‘trailblazer' initiatives, announced in March 2014, to develop employer-driven standards for apprenticeships in several professional and business services occupations.</p><p> </p><p>The skills taskforce is currently researching the metrics for schools' reporting and their effect on the prestige of higher apprenticeships as initial career destinations. It will consider if more could be done to ensure higher apprenticeships have parity of esteem with higher education.</p><p> </p><p>The taskforce is also mapping current school engagement activity involving professional and business services firms with a view to identifying and sharing good practice.</p><p> </p><p>The new emphasis on wider use of higher apprenticeships across professional and business services should contribute towards a greater diversity of routes into these careers in the years to come; potentially offering opportunities to a wider pool of talent.</p><p> </p><p>The skills taskforce intends to consider how the employability of young people can be supported within the national curriculum, but believes that greater engagement between employers and young people is the best way of improving employability skills.</p><p> </p><p>My noble friend Lord Lingfield has set up the independent Institution for Further Education to take forward work on a new chartered status quality schemeand is considering the application and assessment process for Further Education providers.</p><p> </p><p>The skills taskforce is exploring how web-based services can support engagement between firms and the education sector, including a planned digital “inspiration” tool being developed by this Department to encourage business-schools engagement.</p><p> </p><p>Further information on the implementation of “Growth is our business: a strategy for professional and business services” is included in a progress report on industrial strategy, published on 23 April 2014: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/industrial-strategy-early-successes-and-future-priorities" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/industrial-strategy-early-successes-and-future-priorities</a>.</p> answering member constituency West Suffolk answering member printed Matthew Hancock grouped question UIN 195984 195987 195989 195990 195991 195992 195993 question first answered 30/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4070 label Biography information for Matt Hancock
tabling member	1478 label Biography information for Mr Iain Wright

47881

registered interest
date	09/04/2014
answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept id	26
answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with reference to Growth is Our Business: A Strategy for Professional and Business Services published in July 2013, what web-based initiatives have been set up to link professional and business services businesses with the education sector.
tabling member constituency	Hartlepool
tabling member printed	Mr Iain Wright
uin	195990
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2014 answer text <p>These questions ask about a number of actions related to skills development from “Growth is our business: a strategy for professional and business services”, published in July 2013 as part of Government's industrial strategy. The strategy was developed in collaboration with the professional and business services sector, focusing on the industry's agenda for long term growth. It is led by the Professional and Business Services Council.</p><p> </p><p>The strategy reflects two key business priorities in skills development. First, to expand recruitment routes into the sector, in particular higher apprenticeships, to access a wider, more diverse talent pool. Second, to help businesses engage with the education system to raise aspirations and promote work readiness. A business-led skills taskforce for professional and business services has been established. It is developing approaches to implement the strategy and will report progress at the end of this year.</p><p> </p><p>The skills taskforce is leading work to help towards the strategy's ambitious target to treble the number of higher apprenticeship starts across professional and business services to 10,000 over five years; and to follow progress in the interim, so that the numbers of these apprenticeships can be monitored. As a first step, the taskforce is supporting the London Professional Apprenticeship scheme, which was launched in December 2013, and is now recruiting apprentices and employers to take part. The scheme will pilot the proposal for a “clearing house” to help small firms access higher apprenticeships in professional and business services. In addition, the taskforce is backing new ‘trailblazer' initiatives, announced in March 2014, to develop employer-driven standards for apprenticeships in several professional and business services occupations.</p><p> </p><p>The skills taskforce is currently researching the metrics for schools' reporting and their effect on the prestige of higher apprenticeships as initial career destinations. It will consider if more could be done to ensure higher apprenticeships have parity of esteem with higher education.</p><p> </p><p>The taskforce is also mapping current school engagement activity involving professional and business services firms with a view to identifying and sharing good practice.</p><p> </p><p>The new emphasis on wider use of higher apprenticeships across professional and business services should contribute towards a greater diversity of routes into these careers in the years to come; potentially offering opportunities to a wider pool of talent.</p><p> </p><p>The skills taskforce intends to consider how the employability of young people can be supported within the national curriculum, but believes that greater engagement between employers and young people is the best way of improving employability skills.</p><p> </p><p>My noble friend Lord Lingfield has set up the independent Institution for Further Education to take forward work on a new chartered status quality schemeand is considering the application and assessment process for Further Education providers.</p><p> </p><p>The skills taskforce is exploring how web-based services can support engagement between firms and the education sector, including a planned digital “inspiration” tool being developed by this Department to encourage business-schools engagement.</p><p> </p><p>Further information on the implementation of “Growth is our business: a strategy for professional and business services” is included in a progress report on industrial strategy, published on 23 April 2014: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/industrial-strategy-early-successes-and-future-priorities" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/industrial-strategy-early-successes-and-future-priorities</a>.</p> answering member constituency West Suffolk answering member printed Matthew Hancock grouped question UIN 195984 195985 195987 195989 195991 195992 195993 question first answered 30/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4070 label Biography information for Matt Hancock
tabling member	1478 label Biography information for Mr Iain Wright

47883

registered interest
date	09/04/2014
answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept id	26
answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with reference to Growth is Our Business: A Strategy for Professional and Business Services published in July 2013, what progress his Department has made in increasing the diversity of entry to the professional and business services sector.
tabling member constituency	Hartlepool
tabling member printed	Mr Iain Wright
uin	195987
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2014 answer text <p>These questions ask about a number of actions related to skills development from “Growth is our business: a strategy for professional and business services”, published in July 2013 as part of Government's industrial strategy. The strategy was developed in collaboration with the professional and business services sector, focusing on the industry's agenda for long term growth. It is led by the Professional and Business Services Council.</p><p> </p><p>The strategy reflects two key business priorities in skills development. First, to expand recruitment routes into the sector, in particular higher apprenticeships, to access a wider, more diverse talent pool. Second, to help businesses engage with the education system to raise aspirations and promote work readiness. A business-led skills taskforce for professional and business services has been established. It is developing approaches to implement the strategy and will report progress at the end of this year.</p><p> </p><p>The skills taskforce is leading work to help towards the strategy's ambitious target to treble the number of higher apprenticeship starts across professional and business services to 10,000 over five years; and to follow progress in the interim, so that the numbers of these apprenticeships can be monitored. As a first step, the taskforce is supporting the London Professional Apprenticeship scheme, which was launched in December 2013, and is now recruiting apprentices and employers to take part. The scheme will pilot the proposal for a “clearing house” to help small firms access higher apprenticeships in professional and business services. In addition, the taskforce is backing new ‘trailblazer' initiatives, announced in March 2014, to develop employer-driven standards for apprenticeships in several professional and business services occupations.</p><p> </p><p>The skills taskforce is currently researching the metrics for schools' reporting and their effect on the prestige of higher apprenticeships as initial career destinations. It will consider if more could be done to ensure higher apprenticeships have parity of esteem with higher education.</p><p> </p><p>The taskforce is also mapping current school engagement activity involving professional and business services firms with a view to identifying and sharing good practice.</p><p> </p><p>The new emphasis on wider use of higher apprenticeships across professional and business services should contribute towards a greater diversity of routes into these careers in the years to come; potentially offering opportunities to a wider pool of talent.</p><p> </p><p>The skills taskforce intends to consider how the employability of young people can be supported within the national curriculum, but believes that greater engagement between employers and young people is the best way of improving employability skills.</p><p> </p><p>My noble friend Lord Lingfield has set up the independent Institution for Further Education to take forward work on a new chartered status quality schemeand is considering the application and assessment process for Further Education providers.</p><p> </p><p>The skills taskforce is exploring how web-based services can support engagement between firms and the education sector, including a planned digital “inspiration” tool being developed by this Department to encourage business-schools engagement.</p><p> </p><p>Further information on the implementation of “Growth is our business: a strategy for professional and business services” is included in a progress report on industrial strategy, published on 23 April 2014: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/industrial-strategy-early-successes-and-future-priorities" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/industrial-strategy-early-successes-and-future-priorities</a>.</p> answering member constituency West Suffolk answering member printed Matthew Hancock grouped question UIN 195984 195985 195989 195990 195991 195992 195993 question first answered 30/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4070 label Biography information for Matt Hancock
tabling member	1478 label Biography information for Mr Iain Wright

47884

registered interest
date	09/04/2014
answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept id	26
answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with reference to Growth is Our Business: A Strategy for Professional and Business Services published in July 2013, what progress his Department has made in piloting new approaches to improving business and skills system engagement and sharing of good practice.
tabling member constituency	Hartlepool
tabling member printed	Mr Iain Wright
uin	195991
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2014 answer text <p>These questions ask about a number of actions related to skills development from “Growth is our business: a strategy for professional and business services”, published in July 2013 as part of Government's industrial strategy. The strategy was developed in collaboration with the professional and business services sector, focusing on the industry's agenda for long term growth. It is led by the Professional and Business Services Council.</p><p> </p><p>The strategy reflects two key business priorities in skills development. First, to expand recruitment routes into the sector, in particular higher apprenticeships, to access a wider, more diverse talent pool. Second, to help businesses engage with the education system to raise aspirations and promote work readiness. A business-led skills taskforce for professional and business services has been established. It is developing approaches to implement the strategy and will report progress at the end of this year.</p><p> </p><p>The skills taskforce is leading work to help towards the strategy's ambitious target to treble the number of higher apprenticeship starts across professional and business services to 10,000 over five years; and to follow progress in the interim, so that the numbers of these apprenticeships can be monitored. As a first step, the taskforce is supporting the London Professional Apprenticeship scheme, which was launched in December 2013, and is now recruiting apprentices and employers to take part. The scheme will pilot the proposal for a “clearing house” to help small firms access higher apprenticeships in professional and business services. In addition, the taskforce is backing new ‘trailblazer' initiatives, announced in March 2014, to develop employer-driven standards for apprenticeships in several professional and business services occupations.</p><p> </p><p>The skills taskforce is currently researching the metrics for schools' reporting and their effect on the prestige of higher apprenticeships as initial career destinations. It will consider if more could be done to ensure higher apprenticeships have parity of esteem with higher education.</p><p> </p><p>The taskforce is also mapping current school engagement activity involving professional and business services firms with a view to identifying and sharing good practice.</p><p> </p><p>The new emphasis on wider use of higher apprenticeships across professional and business services should contribute towards a greater diversity of routes into these careers in the years to come; potentially offering opportunities to a wider pool of talent.</p><p> </p><p>The skills taskforce intends to consider how the employability of young people can be supported within the national curriculum, but believes that greater engagement between employers and young people is the best way of improving employability skills.</p><p> </p><p>My noble friend Lord Lingfield has set up the independent Institution for Further Education to take forward work on a new chartered status quality schemeand is considering the application and assessment process for Further Education providers.</p><p> </p><p>The skills taskforce is exploring how web-based services can support engagement between firms and the education sector, including a planned digital “inspiration” tool being developed by this Department to encourage business-schools engagement.</p><p> </p><p>Further information on the implementation of “Growth is our business: a strategy for professional and business services” is included in a progress report on industrial strategy, published on 23 April 2014: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/industrial-strategy-early-successes-and-future-priorities" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/industrial-strategy-early-successes-and-future-priorities</a>.</p> answering member constituency West Suffolk answering member printed Matthew Hancock grouped question UIN 195984 195985 195987 195989 195990 195992 195993 question first answered 30/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4070 label Biography information for Matt Hancock
tabling member	1478 label Biography information for Mr Iain Wright

47885

registered interest
date	09/04/2014
answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept id	26
answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with reference to Growth is Our Business: A Strategy for Professional and Business Services published in July 2013, what progress his Department has made in the development of the growth voucher scheme; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Hartlepool
tabling member printed	Mr Iain Wright
uin	195988
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2014 answer text <p>Since its launch in January 2014, the Growth Vouchers programme has attracted over 2,500 applications from small businesses and more than £2.5m worth of vouchers have been distributed. Vouchers can only be spent on strategic advice in 5 key areas; raising finance and managing cash flow; recruiting and developing staff; improving leadership and management skills; marketing, attracting and keeping customers; and making the most of digital technology.</p><p> </p><p>We have been working closely with the Professional and Business Services sector and so far over 2,700 private sector business support providers offer their services through a new online marketplace (run by Enterprise Nation), of which over 1,000 are approved to deliver advice under the Growth Vouchers programme.</p><p> </p><p>Providers interested in offering their services should register at: <a href="https://marketplace.enterprisenation.com/marketplaces/users/new" target="_blank">marketplace.enterprisenation.com/marketplaces/users/new</a></p><p> </p><p>Businesses wishing to apply should visit: <a href="http://www.gov.uk/apply-growth-vouchers" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/apply-growth-vouchers</a></p> answering member constituency West Suffolk answering member printed Matthew Hancock question first answered 30/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4070 label Biography information for Matt Hancock
tabling member	1478 label Biography information for Mr Iain Wright