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1124536

registered interest
date	02/05/2019
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Vocational Guidance: Disability
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 improve careers advice for young adults with learning difficulties and disabilities.
tabling member constituency	Mansfield
tabling member printed	Ben Bradley
uin	250489
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/05/2019 answer text <p>The careers strategy, published in December 2017, includes proposals to improve the quality and coverage of careers advice in schools. For example, the Careers &amp; Enterprise Company and the Gatsby Foundation have developed a toolkit containing tips for schools and employers to help them support young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). This is available at the following link: <a href="http://www.talentinocareers.co.uk/send-gatsby-benchmark-toolkit.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.talentinocareers.co.uk/send-gatsby-benchmark-toolkit.pdf</a>.</p><p>The Careers &amp; Enterprise Company has awarded £1.7 million to 20 organisations to support some of the most vulnerable young people to help them prepare for the world of work. This is targeted at programmes supporting disadvantaged groups including those with SEND), looked after children and care leavers and young people from gypsy, Roma and traveller communities. Projects include tailored careers support in Sussex for young people with SEND and their parents and a partnership that helps young people with autism to engage with local employers and learn about the technical routes available to them in Leeds.</p><p> </p><p>The National Careers Service provides free, up to date, impartial information, advice and guidance on careers, skills and the labour market in England. It offers face-to-face advice, a helpline with web chat, text and telephone support and a website which gives customers 24-hour access to information and advice. All services are available to adults aged 19+ and young people aged 13 to 18 can use the website and helpline. People with learning difficulties and disabilities are a priority group for face-to-face advice and the National Careers Service are very experienced in providing support to vulnerable groups. Just over a fifth (22%) of National Careers Service face-to-face customers have a disability, which is higher than in the general population (18%).[1]</p><p> </p><p>[1] Summer 2017 equality analysis of the National Careers Service.</p> answering member constituency Guildford answering member printed Anne Milton question first answered 13/05/2019 17:00:04 answering member 1523 label Biography information for Anne Milton
tabling member	4663 label Biography information for Ben Bradley

1121844

registered interest
date	18/04/2019
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Apprentices: Nottinghamshire
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to increase the number of apprenticeships in Nottinghamshire.
tabling member constituency	Mansfield
tabling member printed	Ben Bradley
uin	245983
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2019 answer text <p>The National Apprenticeship Service is working with Nottingham City Council to raise awareness of high value apprenticeships in the Nottingham area. The ‘Opportunities Through Apprenticeships’ project launched in November 2018. We are supporting the council in their work with local providers and employers to encourage the creation of more apprenticeships in high value sectors, such as digital, manufacturing and engineering<strong>.</strong></p><p>We have introduced a wide range of reforms to apprenticeships to improve their quality and encourage employers across England to increase the number of apprenticeships they offer.</p><p>To support all employers to make the long-term, sustainable investment in training, from April 2019 we have halved the co-investment rate from 10% to 5% for new starts and have increased the amount that levy paying employers can transfer to other employers from 10% to 25%.</p><p>We are working to raise awareness of apprenticeships across the country and the benefits they bring to both employers and apprentices. Our ‘Fire it Up’ communication campaign, seeks to change the way people think about apprenticeships and demonstrate that they are an aspirational choice for anyone with passion and energy.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Guildford answering member printed Anne Milton question first answered 30/04/2019 15:57:51 answering member 1523 label Biography information for Anne Milton
tabling member	4663 label Biography information for Ben Bradley

1109963

registered interest
date	05/04/2019
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Apprentices: Finance
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will ensure that apprenticeships of all levels including levels (a) 6 and (b) 7 will continue to be eligible for apprenticeship levy funding.
tabling member constituency	Mansfield
tabling member printed	Ben Bradley
uin	241485
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/04/2019 answer text <p>We are pleased that employers are choosing to move to new, higher-quality apprenticeship standards. Employers are designing higher-level apprenticeships that take longer, require more off-the-job training and as a result cost more, and that presents longer-term financial challenges.</p><p> </p><p>We continue to make funding available for apprenticeships at all levels, including levels 6 and 7. We will keep our funding policy under review in order to ensure that apprenticeships continue to be affordable and offer value for money for the taxpayer.</p><p> </p><p>In 2019-20, funding available for investment in apprenticeships will have increased to over £2.5 billion, double what was spent in 2010.</p> answering member constituency Guildford answering member printed Anne Milton question first answered 15/04/2019 16:28:46 answering member 1523 label Biography information for Anne Milton
tabling member	4663 label Biography information for Ben Bradley

1090919

registered interest
date	18/03/2019
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Apprentices: Nottinghamshire
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to increase the number of degree apprenticeships available in Nottinghamshire.
tabling member constituency	Mansfield
tabling member printed	Ben Bradley
uin	233566
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/03/2019 answer text <p>There are now 78 industry-designed apprenticeship standards available at level 6 and level 7, of which 60 are degree apprenticeships.</p><p>There were 10,880 starts on level 6+ apprenticeships, including degree apprenticeships, in 2017/18, a six-fold increase on the previous academic year.</p><p>We are supporting the development and take up of level 6+ and degree apprenticeships across England through the Degree Apprenticeship Development Fund (DADF). The fund has supported 103 education providers, 56 further education colleges and 47 higher education institutions, to boost capacity and internal infrastructure within higher education, including Nottingham Trent University.</p><p>The fund has supported a range of awareness raising activities aimed at higher, level 6+ and degree apprenticeship, including supporting 30 co-branded Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) and National Apprenticeship service (NAS) careers fairs, offering access to 240,000 year 12 students.</p><p>DADF funding has also supported the NAS and UCAS to develop a higher and degree apprenticeships ‘vacancy finder’ consolidating many of these opportunities into one place. Approximately 2,000 vacancies, with 2019 starts, were published in November 2018.</p><p>We have also recently launched our ‘Opportunities through Apprenticeships’ campaign, working with partners in Portsmouth, Nottingham, South Tyneside and Torbay to increase participation in apprenticeships particularly at higher levels.</p> answering member constituency Guildford answering member printed Anne Milton question first answered 26/03/2019 08:40:36 answering member 1523 label Biography information for Anne Milton
tabling member	4663 label Biography information for Ben Bradley

1078549

registered interest
date	27/02/2019
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Apprentices: Nottinghamshire
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many apprenticeships have been created in (a) Mansfield and (b) Nottinghamshire since 2015.
tabling member constituency	Mansfield
tabling member printed	Ben Bradley
uin	226751
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/03/2019 answer text <p>There have been 4,590 apprenticeship starts in the Mansfield parliamentary constituency between May 2015 and October 2018. There have been 27,740 apprenticeship starts in the Nottinghamshire local authority between May 2015 and October 2018.</p><p>The number of apprenticeship starts by parliamentary constituency and local authority for the 2014/15 to 2017/18 academic years (final year figures) and quarter 1 of 2018/19 (provisional figures) are available here: <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/772388/Apprenticeship-starts-ach-geography-tool_201415-Q1201819_Jan2019_v1.xlsx" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/772388/Apprenticeship-starts-ach-geography-tool_201415-Q1201819_Jan2019_v1.xlsx</a>.</p> answering member constituency Guildford answering member printed Anne Milton question first answered 08/03/2019 13:01:43 answering member 1523 label Biography information for Anne Milton
tabling member	4663 label Biography information for Ben Bradley

1046035

registered interest
date	22/01/2019
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Productivity and Skilled Workers: Midlands
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment he has made of his Department's progress in tackling the skills and productivity gap in the Midlands.
tabling member constituency	Mansfield
tabling member printed	Ben Bradley
uin	211345
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/01/2019 answer text <p>We are working closing with the West Midlands Combined Authority on the implementation of the Skills Deal, which is designed to help tackle the skills and productivity gap in the region. This includes supporting them to maximise the opportunities of the Apprenticeship Levy; and to drive adult learning and retraining in digital skills via a pilot that will inform the National Retraining Scheme.</p><p> </p><p>From the 2019/20 academic year, the adult education budget will be devolved to the West Midlands Combined Authority. Once devolved, the combined authority will decide how best to use this funding, to meet the needs of their residents and the local economy. The department has worked very closely with officials in the combined authority to support their preparations, and a strong relationship has been established. A Memorandum of Understanding between the department and the combined authority establishes a collaborative way of working at all levels to maximise the potential of adult education devolution.</p><p> </p><p>We are also establishing Skills Advisory Panels, which bring together local employers and skills providers to pool knowledge on skills and labour market needs, and to work together to understand and address key local challenges. Both the West Midlands Mayoral Combined Authority and Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership were in the first phase of local areas, working with the department to develop the policy. The West Midlands Combined Authority has already held its inaugural meeting of its Skills Advisory Panel in November 2018. The department is working with all panels across England, including in the Midlands, to establish their Skills Advisory Panels by October 2019, in line with the guidance[1] the department published in December 2018.</p><p> </p><p>We are also supporting, alongside other government departments, the Midlands Engine’s Vision for Growth, which includes tackling the mismatch between business skills needs and the skill levels of residents in the region.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>[1] Department for Education (DfE) (December 2018) Skills Advisory Panels: Guidance on the Role and Governance, available at: <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/762629/Skills_Advisory_Panels-Guidance_on_the_Role_and_Governance.pdf" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/762629/Skills_Advisory_Panels-Guidance_on_the_Role_and_Governance.pdf</a> and DfE (December 2018) Skills Advisory Panels Analytical Toolkit, avaialbe at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/skills-advisory-panels-analytical-toolkit" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/skills-advisory-panels-analytical-toolkit</a>.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Guildford answering member printed Anne Milton question first answered 30/01/2019 13:23:23 answering member 1523 label Biography information for Anne Milton
tabling member	4663 label Biography information for Ben Bradley

1023319

registered interest
date	11/12/2018
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Training: Finance
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many pots of funding there are in his Department for external bodies to access for training, upskilling and incentivising recruitment; and what the value is of those funds.
tabling member constituency	Mansfield
tabling member printed	Ben Bradley
uin	201263
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/12/2018 answer text <p>We do not routinely report on funding in the terms requested therefore the information requested is not held centrally.</p> answering member constituency Guildford answering member printed Anne Milton question first answered 19/12/2018 09:51:44 answering member 1523 label Biography information for Anne Milton
tabling member	4663 label Biography information for Ben Bradley

1019453

registered interest
date	03/12/2018
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Department for Education: Recruitment
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many pots of funding there are in his Department for training, upskilling and incentivising recruitment; and what the value is of those funds.
tabling member constituency	Mansfield
tabling member printed	Ben Bradley
uin	198338
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/12/2018 answer text <p>The department has allocated a central budget for this financial year of £2.28 million to support the training and upskilling of Department for Education (DfE) staff (£521,000) and apprenticeship programmes (£1.759 million) for DfE staff.</p><p>The department’s central recruitment budget for this financial year is £602,000 to cover Government Recruitment Services for all grades, attraction spend, senior civil service (SCS) Individual Leadership Assessments and other SCS recruitment costs.</p><p>The central allocations above support departmental priorities. DfE teams hold local budgets to support team related priorities.</p> answering member constituency Guildford answering member printed Anne Milton question first answered 11/12/2018 16:16:02 answering member 1523 label Biography information for Anne Milton
tabling member	4663 label Biography information for Ben Bradley

994175

registered interest
date	24/10/2018
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Apprentices
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when the Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers will reopen for applications.
tabling member constituency	Mansfield
tabling member printed	Ben Bradley
uin	183440
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/10/2018 answer text <p>The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) is currently reviewing the Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers and intends to re-open it for applications this autumn. I want to ensure that the register provides assurance to employers that the training providers they choose have the capacity and capability to deliver good quality apprenticeship training. Further details on the updates that the ESFA is making to the apprenticeship register and the timing of its re-opening will be available in the coming weeks.</p> answering member constituency Guildford answering member printed Anne Milton question first answered 29/10/2018 16:12:58 answering member 1523 label Biography information for Anne Milton
tabling member	4663 label Biography information for Ben Bradley

985683

registered interest
date	11/10/2018
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Apprentices: Disadvantaged
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 encourage young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to undertake apprenticeships.
tabling member constituency	Mansfield
tabling member printed	Ben Bradley
uin	178383
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/10/2018 answer text <p>We want to ensure that high quality apprenticeships are a prestigious option, accessible to all people from all backgrounds. We are encouraging take up from under-represented groups so that even more people can benefit from the increased wage and employment prospects that apprenticeships offer.</p><p> </p><p>The latest phase of our marketing campaign, Get In Go Far, ran until the end of September 2018 and coincided with August's exam results period when young people look at the options available to them after school or college. This aimed to help increase the number of vacancies created by employers and encourage young people to choose an apprenticeship as a high quality career route, signposting them to new vacancies on offer.</p><p> </p><p>Our funding policy recognises where additional support is necessary, through extra funding where the costs of supporting an apprentice are higher, making sure these costs are met by the government, not by the employer. For example, we provide £1,000 to both employers and training providers when they take on 16 to 18 year olds and 19 to 24 year olds who were in care or who have an Education, Health and Care Plan. Earlier this year, we introduced a new bursary for care leavers starting apprenticeships. This £1,000 bursary is available to all care leavers aged 16 to 24 and is paid directly to the apprentice.</p><p> </p><p>To further social mobility and to make sure that a higher quality outcome for individuals is achieved, we want our reforms to mean more apprentices from disadvantaged areas are undertaking apprenticeships at a higher level, or in sectors that offer increasing value to the learner. Over the next two years, the National Apprenticeship Service is focusing on raising the value of apprenticeships undertaken in disadvantaged areas. This includes a broad-based employer engagement campaign across the 20 per cent most deprived local authority areas (65 areas in total) and working with local partners.</p><p> </p><p>We are also increasing the take up of degree apprenticeships through the Degree Apprenticeship Development Fund. In 2017-18, as part of the bidding process, we specifically encouraged bids that improve access to Degree Apprenticeships for disadvantaged and under-represented groups and bids that expand provision in science, technology, engineering and maths occupations (STEM) and gender diversity in STEM.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Guildford answering member printed Anne Milton question first answered 18/10/2018 15:53:56 answering member 1523 label Biography information for Anne Milton
tabling member	4663 label Biography information for Ben Bradley