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175916

registered interest
date	27/01/2015
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
hansard heading	Business: Education
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 page 23 of Growth is our Business: A Strategy for Professional and Business Services, published in July 2013, what progress has been made towards achieving the stated aim of linking professional and business service businesses with the education sector, including through the National Careers Service; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Hartlepool
tabling member printed	Mr Iain Wright
uin	222126
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/02/2015 answer text <p>These questions ask about progress in implementation of some actions from “Growth is our business: a strategy for professional and business services”, published in July 2013 as part of this Government’s industrial strategy. This strategy was developed in collaboration with the professional and business services sector, addressing the industry’s agenda for long term growth. The Professional and Business Services Council has oversight of the development and now the implementation of the strategy.</p><p> </p><p>A business-led Skills Taskforce for professional and business services is providing leadership on the sector’s key priorities in skills development. It will report shortly on progress.</p><p> </p><p>The strategy aims to expand recruitment routes into the professional and business services sector, in particular through higher apprenticeships. There is a target to increase higher apprenticeship starts across the sector to 10,000 per annum by 2018. The Skills Taskforce is encouraging the development of new, employer-led apprenticeship standards in professional and business services. Standards are being developed for ten major occupations across the sector. These standards will help the sector move towards the 2018 target.</p><p> </p><p>The latest published annual figures show that there were around 4,500 higher level apprenticeship starts in occupations across the professional and business services sector in England in the 2013-14 academic year compared to zero in 2009/10. New apprenticeship entry routes are intended as a means for the professional and business services sector to access a wider, more diverse recruitment pool in the years to come. The Skills Taskforce has supported the London Professional Apprenticeship, an innovative regional scheme to open up apprenticeships in these occupations to a wider set of young people in London, and also Access to Accountancy, which aims to increase opportunities in the profession to young people from underprivileged backgrounds. Half of those starting higher apprenticeships in professional and business services during the 2013-14 academic year were aged 25 or over. Leading businesses in the sector report that recruiting apprentices has indeed enabled them to access a more diverse talent pool from a wider range of socio-economic backgrounds.</p><p> </p><p>The sector strategy also aims to help professional and business services firms interact with the education system to raise aspirations and promote work readiness. The Skills Taskforce has been mapping current activity of this kind to identify good practice. Professional and Business Services Council member firms engaged with schools in 32 of the 39 English Local Enterprise Partnerships during 2014.</p><p> </p><p>The Professional and Business Services Council now has a rolling programme of regional outreach to business communities to communicate about the sector strategy and its implementation. During the last year, the Department has participated in six events around the country to help build this engagement. An additional workshop specifically for small firms was held in London and UK Trade &amp; Investment delivered a seminar to help professional and business services exporters as part of the Liverpool International Festival of Business. Further regional outreach events are being planned.</p><p> </p><p>The Professional and Business Services Council has been developing its views on the regulation of the sector, the associated role of adherence to high professional standards, and where there may be barriers to new business models. It is pursuing consultation with the wider sector on these issues.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency West Suffolk answering member printed Matthew Hancock grouped question UIN 222127 222128 222129 222130 222131 222133 222134 222513 question first answered 06/02/2015 15:11:13 answering member 4070 label Biography information for Matt Hancock
tabling member	1478 label Biography information for Mr Iain Wright

175917

registered interest
date	27/01/2015
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
hansard heading	Apprentices
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 page 21 of Growth is our Business: A Strategy for Professional and Business Services, published in July 2013, what progress has been made towards achieving 10,000 higher apprenticeship starts; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Hartlepool
tabling member printed	Mr Iain Wright
uin	222127
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/02/2015 answer text <p>These questions ask about progress in implementation of some actions from “Growth is our business: a strategy for professional and business services”, published in July 2013 as part of this Government’s industrial strategy. This strategy was developed in collaboration with the professional and business services sector, addressing the industry’s agenda for long term growth. The Professional and Business Services Council has oversight of the development and now the implementation of the strategy.</p><p> </p><p>A business-led Skills Taskforce for professional and business services is providing leadership on the sector’s key priorities in skills development. It will report shortly on progress.</p><p> </p><p>The strategy aims to expand recruitment routes into the professional and business services sector, in particular through higher apprenticeships. There is a target to increase higher apprenticeship starts across the sector to 10,000 per annum by 2018. The Skills Taskforce is encouraging the development of new, employer-led apprenticeship standards in professional and business services. Standards are being developed for ten major occupations across the sector. These standards will help the sector move towards the 2018 target.</p><p> </p><p>The latest published annual figures show that there were around 4,500 higher level apprenticeship starts in occupations across the professional and business services sector in England in the 2013-14 academic year compared to zero in 2009/10. New apprenticeship entry routes are intended as a means for the professional and business services sector to access a wider, more diverse recruitment pool in the years to come. The Skills Taskforce has supported the London Professional Apprenticeship, an innovative regional scheme to open up apprenticeships in these occupations to a wider set of young people in London, and also Access to Accountancy, which aims to increase opportunities in the profession to young people from underprivileged backgrounds. Half of those starting higher apprenticeships in professional and business services during the 2013-14 academic year were aged 25 or over. Leading businesses in the sector report that recruiting apprentices has indeed enabled them to access a more diverse talent pool from a wider range of socio-economic backgrounds.</p><p> </p><p>The sector strategy also aims to help professional and business services firms interact with the education system to raise aspirations and promote work readiness. The Skills Taskforce has been mapping current activity of this kind to identify good practice. Professional and Business Services Council member firms engaged with schools in 32 of the 39 English Local Enterprise Partnerships during 2014.</p><p> </p><p>The Professional and Business Services Council now has a rolling programme of regional outreach to business communities to communicate about the sector strategy and its implementation. During the last year, the Department has participated in six events around the country to help build this engagement. An additional workshop specifically for small firms was held in London and UK Trade &amp; Investment delivered a seminar to help professional and business services exporters as part of the Liverpool International Festival of Business. Further regional outreach events are being planned.</p><p> </p><p>The Professional and Business Services Council has been developing its views on the regulation of the sector, the associated role of adherence to high professional standards, and where there may be barriers to new business models. It is pursuing consultation with the wider sector on these issues.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency West Suffolk answering member printed Matthew Hancock grouped question UIN 222126 222128 222129 222130 222131 222133 222134 222513 question first answered 06/02/2015 15:11:13 answering member 4070 label Biography information for Matt Hancock
tabling member	1478 label Biography information for Mr Iain Wright

175918

registered interest
date	27/01/2015
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
hansard heading	Business: Recruitment
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 page 21 of Growth is our Business: A Strategy for Professional and Business Services, published in July 2013, what steps he has taken to increase the diversity of entry to the professional and business services sector; and what effect those steps have had.
tabling member constituency	Hartlepool
tabling member printed	Mr Iain Wright
uin	222128
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/02/2015 answer text <p>These questions ask about progress in implementation of some actions from “Growth is our business: a strategy for professional and business services”, published in July 2013 as part of this Government’s industrial strategy. This strategy was developed in collaboration with the professional and business services sector, addressing the industry’s agenda for long term growth. The Professional and Business Services Council has oversight of the development and now the implementation of the strategy.</p><p> </p><p>A business-led Skills Taskforce for professional and business services is providing leadership on the sector’s key priorities in skills development. It will report shortly on progress.</p><p> </p><p>The strategy aims to expand recruitment routes into the professional and business services sector, in particular through higher apprenticeships. There is a target to increase higher apprenticeship starts across the sector to 10,000 per annum by 2018. The Skills Taskforce is encouraging the development of new, employer-led apprenticeship standards in professional and business services. Standards are being developed for ten major occupations across the sector. These standards will help the sector move towards the 2018 target.</p><p> </p><p>The latest published annual figures show that there were around 4,500 higher level apprenticeship starts in occupations across the professional and business services sector in England in the 2013-14 academic year compared to zero in 2009/10. New apprenticeship entry routes are intended as a means for the professional and business services sector to access a wider, more diverse recruitment pool in the years to come. The Skills Taskforce has supported the London Professional Apprenticeship, an innovative regional scheme to open up apprenticeships in these occupations to a wider set of young people in London, and also Access to Accountancy, which aims to increase opportunities in the profession to young people from underprivileged backgrounds. Half of those starting higher apprenticeships in professional and business services during the 2013-14 academic year were aged 25 or over. Leading businesses in the sector report that recruiting apprentices has indeed enabled them to access a more diverse talent pool from a wider range of socio-economic backgrounds.</p><p> </p><p>The sector strategy also aims to help professional and business services firms interact with the education system to raise aspirations and promote work readiness. The Skills Taskforce has been mapping current activity of this kind to identify good practice. Professional and Business Services Council member firms engaged with schools in 32 of the 39 English Local Enterprise Partnerships during 2014.</p><p> </p><p>The Professional and Business Services Council now has a rolling programme of regional outreach to business communities to communicate about the sector strategy and its implementation. During the last year, the Department has participated in six events around the country to help build this engagement. An additional workshop specifically for small firms was held in London and UK Trade &amp; Investment delivered a seminar to help professional and business services exporters as part of the Liverpool International Festival of Business. Further regional outreach events are being planned.</p><p> </p><p>The Professional and Business Services Council has been developing its views on the regulation of the sector, the associated role of adherence to high professional standards, and where there may be barriers to new business models. It is pursuing consultation with the wider sector on these issues.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency West Suffolk answering member printed Matthew Hancock grouped question UIN 222126 222127 222129 222130 222131 222133 222134 222513 question first answered 06/02/2015 15:11:13 answering member 4070 label Biography information for Matt Hancock
tabling member	1478 label Biography information for Mr Iain Wright

175919

registered interest
date	27/01/2015
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
hansard heading	Apprentices
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 page 21 of Growth is our Business: A Strategy for Professional and Business Services, published in July 2013, what estimate he has made of changes in the number of higher apprenticeships in the professional and business services sector since the launch of that strategy.
tabling member constituency	Hartlepool
tabling member printed	Mr Iain Wright
uin	222129
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/02/2015 answer text <p>These questions ask about progress in implementation of some actions from “Growth is our business: a strategy for professional and business services”, published in July 2013 as part of this Government’s industrial strategy. This strategy was developed in collaboration with the professional and business services sector, addressing the industry’s agenda for long term growth. The Professional and Business Services Council has oversight of the development and now the implementation of the strategy.</p><p> </p><p>A business-led Skills Taskforce for professional and business services is providing leadership on the sector’s key priorities in skills development. It will report shortly on progress.</p><p> </p><p>The strategy aims to expand recruitment routes into the professional and business services sector, in particular through higher apprenticeships. There is a target to increase higher apprenticeship starts across the sector to 10,000 per annum by 2018. The Skills Taskforce is encouraging the development of new, employer-led apprenticeship standards in professional and business services. Standards are being developed for ten major occupations across the sector. These standards will help the sector move towards the 2018 target.</p><p> </p><p>The latest published annual figures show that there were around 4,500 higher level apprenticeship starts in occupations across the professional and business services sector in England in the 2013-14 academic year compared to zero in 2009/10. New apprenticeship entry routes are intended as a means for the professional and business services sector to access a wider, more diverse recruitment pool in the years to come. The Skills Taskforce has supported the London Professional Apprenticeship, an innovative regional scheme to open up apprenticeships in these occupations to a wider set of young people in London, and also Access to Accountancy, which aims to increase opportunities in the profession to young people from underprivileged backgrounds. Half of those starting higher apprenticeships in professional and business services during the 2013-14 academic year were aged 25 or over. Leading businesses in the sector report that recruiting apprentices has indeed enabled them to access a more diverse talent pool from a wider range of socio-economic backgrounds.</p><p> </p><p>The sector strategy also aims to help professional and business services firms interact with the education system to raise aspirations and promote work readiness. The Skills Taskforce has been mapping current activity of this kind to identify good practice. Professional and Business Services Council member firms engaged with schools in 32 of the 39 English Local Enterprise Partnerships during 2014.</p><p> </p><p>The Professional and Business Services Council now has a rolling programme of regional outreach to business communities to communicate about the sector strategy and its implementation. During the last year, the Department has participated in six events around the country to help build this engagement. An additional workshop specifically for small firms was held in London and UK Trade &amp; Investment delivered a seminar to help professional and business services exporters as part of the Liverpool International Festival of Business. Further regional outreach events are being planned.</p><p> </p><p>The Professional and Business Services Council has been developing its views on the regulation of the sector, the associated role of adherence to high professional standards, and where there may be barriers to new business models. It is pursuing consultation with the wider sector on these issues.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency West Suffolk answering member printed Matthew Hancock grouped question UIN 222126 222127 222128 222130 222131 222133 222134 222513 question first answered 06/02/2015 15:11:13 answering member 4070 label Biography information for Matt Hancock
tabling member	1478 label Biography information for Mr Iain Wright

175920

registered interest
date	27/01/2015
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
hansard heading	Apprentices
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 page 21 of Growth is our Business: A Strategy for Professional and Business Services, published in July 2013, what estimate he has made of changes in the number of higher apprenticeships offered in the professional and business services sector.
tabling member constituency	Hartlepool
tabling member printed	Mr Iain Wright
uin	222130
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/02/2015 answer text <p>These questions ask about progress in implementation of some actions from “Growth is our business: a strategy for professional and business services”, published in July 2013 as part of this Government’s industrial strategy. This strategy was developed in collaboration with the professional and business services sector, addressing the industry’s agenda for long term growth. The Professional and Business Services Council has oversight of the development and now the implementation of the strategy.</p><p> </p><p>A business-led Skills Taskforce for professional and business services is providing leadership on the sector’s key priorities in skills development. It will report shortly on progress.</p><p> </p><p>The strategy aims to expand recruitment routes into the professional and business services sector, in particular through higher apprenticeships. There is a target to increase higher apprenticeship starts across the sector to 10,000 per annum by 2018. The Skills Taskforce is encouraging the development of new, employer-led apprenticeship standards in professional and business services. Standards are being developed for ten major occupations across the sector. These standards will help the sector move towards the 2018 target.</p><p> </p><p>The latest published annual figures show that there were around 4,500 higher level apprenticeship starts in occupations across the professional and business services sector in England in the 2013-14 academic year compared to zero in 2009/10. New apprenticeship entry routes are intended as a means for the professional and business services sector to access a wider, more diverse recruitment pool in the years to come. The Skills Taskforce has supported the London Professional Apprenticeship, an innovative regional scheme to open up apprenticeships in these occupations to a wider set of young people in London, and also Access to Accountancy, which aims to increase opportunities in the profession to young people from underprivileged backgrounds. Half of those starting higher apprenticeships in professional and business services during the 2013-14 academic year were aged 25 or over. Leading businesses in the sector report that recruiting apprentices has indeed enabled them to access a more diverse talent pool from a wider range of socio-economic backgrounds.</p><p> </p><p>The sector strategy also aims to help professional and business services firms interact with the education system to raise aspirations and promote work readiness. The Skills Taskforce has been mapping current activity of this kind to identify good practice. Professional and Business Services Council member firms engaged with schools in 32 of the 39 English Local Enterprise Partnerships during 2014.</p><p> </p><p>The Professional and Business Services Council now has a rolling programme of regional outreach to business communities to communicate about the sector strategy and its implementation. During the last year, the Department has participated in six events around the country to help build this engagement. An additional workshop specifically for small firms was held in London and UK Trade &amp; Investment delivered a seminar to help professional and business services exporters as part of the Liverpool International Festival of Business. Further regional outreach events are being planned.</p><p> </p><p>The Professional and Business Services Council has been developing its views on the regulation of the sector, the associated role of adherence to high professional standards, and where there may be barriers to new business models. It is pursuing consultation with the wider sector on these issues.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency West Suffolk answering member printed Matthew Hancock grouped question UIN 222126 222127 222128 222129 222131 222133 222134 222513 question first answered 06/02/2015 15:11:13 answering member 4070 label Biography information for Matt Hancock
tabling member	1478 label Biography information for Mr Iain Wright

175921

registered interest
date	27/01/2015
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
hansard heading	Business: Standards
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 page 15 of Growth is our Business: A Strategy for Professional and Business Services, published, in July 2013, what the outcome was of the report to Government, planned for the third quarter of 2014, on the role of professional bodies and how public confidence can be ensured by demonstrating adherence to the highest professional standards; and if he will publish the actions arising from the report.
tabling member constituency	Hartlepool
tabling member printed	Mr Iain Wright
uin	222131
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/02/2015 answer text <p>These questions ask about progress in implementation of some actions from “Growth is our business: a strategy for professional and business services”, published in July 2013 as part of this Government’s industrial strategy. This strategy was developed in collaboration with the professional and business services sector, addressing the industry’s agenda for long term growth. The Professional and Business Services Council has oversight of the development and now the implementation of the strategy.</p><p> </p><p>A business-led Skills Taskforce for professional and business services is providing leadership on the sector’s key priorities in skills development. It will report shortly on progress.</p><p> </p><p>The strategy aims to expand recruitment routes into the professional and business services sector, in particular through higher apprenticeships. There is a target to increase higher apprenticeship starts across the sector to 10,000 per annum by 2018. The Skills Taskforce is encouraging the development of new, employer-led apprenticeship standards in professional and business services. Standards are being developed for ten major occupations across the sector. These standards will help the sector move towards the 2018 target.</p><p> </p><p>The latest published annual figures show that there were around 4,500 higher level apprenticeship starts in occupations across the professional and business services sector in England in the 2013-14 academic year compared to zero in 2009/10. New apprenticeship entry routes are intended as a means for the professional and business services sector to access a wider, more diverse recruitment pool in the years to come. The Skills Taskforce has supported the London Professional Apprenticeship, an innovative regional scheme to open up apprenticeships in these occupations to a wider set of young people in London, and also Access to Accountancy, which aims to increase opportunities in the profession to young people from underprivileged backgrounds. Half of those starting higher apprenticeships in professional and business services during the 2013-14 academic year were aged 25 or over. Leading businesses in the sector report that recruiting apprentices has indeed enabled them to access a more diverse talent pool from a wider range of socio-economic backgrounds.</p><p> </p><p>The sector strategy also aims to help professional and business services firms interact with the education system to raise aspirations and promote work readiness. The Skills Taskforce has been mapping current activity of this kind to identify good practice. Professional and Business Services Council member firms engaged with schools in 32 of the 39 English Local Enterprise Partnerships during 2014.</p><p> </p><p>The Professional and Business Services Council now has a rolling programme of regional outreach to business communities to communicate about the sector strategy and its implementation. During the last year, the Department has participated in six events around the country to help build this engagement. An additional workshop specifically for small firms was held in London and UK Trade &amp; Investment delivered a seminar to help professional and business services exporters as part of the Liverpool International Festival of Business. Further regional outreach events are being planned.</p><p> </p><p>The Professional and Business Services Council has been developing its views on the regulation of the sector, the associated role of adherence to high professional standards, and where there may be barriers to new business models. It is pursuing consultation with the wider sector on these issues.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency West Suffolk answering member printed Matthew Hancock grouped question UIN 222126 222127 222128 222129 222130 222133 222134 222513 question first answered 06/02/2015 15:11:14 answering member 4070 label Biography information for Matt Hancock
tabling member	1478 label Biography information for Mr Iain Wright

175922

registered interest
date	27/01/2015
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
hansard heading	Small Businesses: Government Assistance
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 page 15 of Growth is our Business: A Strategy for Professional and Business Services, published in July 2013, how many Growth Vouchers have been (a) issued and (b) used since the launch of that scheme.
tabling member constituency	Hartlepool
tabling member printed	Mr Iain Wright
uin	222132
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/02/2015 answer text <p>Since the programme was launched on 27th January 2014, 12,864 small businesses have been given advice on what support they should be seeking. Of those, (a) 9,610 have been issued with a voucher to help subsidise the cost of obtaining that advice from suppliers in the private sector and as of 28th January 2015, (b) 1,600 vouchers have been redeemed. There are currently 4,300 vouchers still in circulation with up to three months for businesses to use them.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency West Suffolk answering member printed Matthew Hancock question first answered 09/02/2015 17:16:01 answering member 4070 label Biography information for Matt Hancock
tabling member	1478 label Biography information for Mr Iain Wright

175923

registered interest
date	27/01/2015
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
hansard heading	Business
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 page 15 of Growth is our Business: A Strategy for Professional and Business Services, published in July 2013, what barriers to both the adoption of flexible business models and the development of stronger partnerships between specialist firms have been identified; and what steps have been taken to remove such barriers by the stated deadline of the second quarter of 2014.
tabling member constituency	Hartlepool
tabling member printed	Mr Iain Wright
uin	222133
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/02/2015 answer text <p>These questions ask about progress in implementation of some actions from “Growth is our business: a strategy for professional and business services”, published in July 2013 as part of this Government’s industrial strategy. This strategy was developed in collaboration with the professional and business services sector, addressing the industry’s agenda for long term growth. The Professional and Business Services Council has oversight of the development and now the implementation of the strategy.</p><p> </p><p>A business-led Skills Taskforce for professional and business services is providing leadership on the sector’s key priorities in skills development. It will report shortly on progress.</p><p> </p><p>The strategy aims to expand recruitment routes into the professional and business services sector, in particular through higher apprenticeships. There is a target to increase higher apprenticeship starts across the sector to 10,000 per annum by 2018. The Skills Taskforce is encouraging the development of new, employer-led apprenticeship standards in professional and business services. Standards are being developed for ten major occupations across the sector. These standards will help the sector move towards the 2018 target.</p><p> </p><p>The latest published annual figures show that there were around 4,500 higher level apprenticeship starts in occupations across the professional and business services sector in England in the 2013-14 academic year compared to zero in 2009/10. New apprenticeship entry routes are intended as a means for the professional and business services sector to access a wider, more diverse recruitment pool in the years to come. The Skills Taskforce has supported the London Professional Apprenticeship, an innovative regional scheme to open up apprenticeships in these occupations to a wider set of young people in London, and also Access to Accountancy, which aims to increase opportunities in the profession to young people from underprivileged backgrounds. Half of those starting higher apprenticeships in professional and business services during the 2013-14 academic year were aged 25 or over. Leading businesses in the sector report that recruiting apprentices has indeed enabled them to access a more diverse talent pool from a wider range of socio-economic backgrounds.</p><p> </p><p>The sector strategy also aims to help professional and business services firms interact with the education system to raise aspirations and promote work readiness. The Skills Taskforce has been mapping current activity of this kind to identify good practice. Professional and Business Services Council member firms engaged with schools in 32 of the 39 English Local Enterprise Partnerships during 2014.</p><p> </p><p>The Professional and Business Services Council now has a rolling programme of regional outreach to business communities to communicate about the sector strategy and its implementation. During the last year, the Department has participated in six events around the country to help build this engagement. An additional workshop specifically for small firms was held in London and UK Trade &amp; Investment delivered a seminar to help professional and business services exporters as part of the Liverpool International Festival of Business. Further regional outreach events are being planned.</p><p> </p><p>The Professional and Business Services Council has been developing its views on the regulation of the sector, the associated role of adherence to high professional standards, and where there may be barriers to new business models. It is pursuing consultation with the wider sector on these issues.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency West Suffolk answering member printed Matthew Hancock grouped question UIN 222126 222127 222128 222129 222130 222131 222134 222513 question first answered 06/02/2015 15:11:14 answering member 4070 label Biography information for Matt Hancock
tabling member	1478 label Biography information for Mr Iain Wright

175924

registered interest
date	27/01/2015
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
hansard heading	Apprentices
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 page 21 of Growth is our Business: A Strategy for Professional and Business Services, published in July 2013, what estimate he has made of changes in the number of applications to higher apprenticeships in the professional and business services sector.
tabling member constituency	Hartlepool
tabling member printed	Mr Iain Wright
uin	222134
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/02/2015 answer text <p>These questions ask about progress in implementation of some actions from “Growth is our business: a strategy for professional and business services”, published in July 2013 as part of this Government’s industrial strategy. This strategy was developed in collaboration with the professional and business services sector, addressing the industry’s agenda for long term growth. The Professional and Business Services Council has oversight of the development and now the implementation of the strategy.</p><p> </p><p>A business-led Skills Taskforce for professional and business services is providing leadership on the sector’s key priorities in skills development. It will report shortly on progress.</p><p> </p><p>The strategy aims to expand recruitment routes into the professional and business services sector, in particular through higher apprenticeships. There is a target to increase higher apprenticeship starts across the sector to 10,000 per annum by 2018. The Skills Taskforce is encouraging the development of new, employer-led apprenticeship standards in professional and business services. Standards are being developed for ten major occupations across the sector. These standards will help the sector move towards the 2018 target.</p><p> </p><p>The latest published annual figures show that there were around 4,500 higher level apprenticeship starts in occupations across the professional and business services sector in England in the 2013-14 academic year compared to zero in 2009/10. New apprenticeship entry routes are intended as a means for the professional and business services sector to access a wider, more diverse recruitment pool in the years to come. The Skills Taskforce has supported the London Professional Apprenticeship, an innovative regional scheme to open up apprenticeships in these occupations to a wider set of young people in London, and also Access to Accountancy, which aims to increase opportunities in the profession to young people from underprivileged backgrounds. Half of those starting higher apprenticeships in professional and business services during the 2013-14 academic year were aged 25 or over. Leading businesses in the sector report that recruiting apprentices has indeed enabled them to access a more diverse talent pool from a wider range of socio-economic backgrounds.</p><p> </p><p>The sector strategy also aims to help professional and business services firms interact with the education system to raise aspirations and promote work readiness. The Skills Taskforce has been mapping current activity of this kind to identify good practice. Professional and Business Services Council member firms engaged with schools in 32 of the 39 English Local Enterprise Partnerships during 2014.</p><p> </p><p>The Professional and Business Services Council now has a rolling programme of regional outreach to business communities to communicate about the sector strategy and its implementation. During the last year, the Department has participated in six events around the country to help build this engagement. An additional workshop specifically for small firms was held in London and UK Trade &amp; Investment delivered a seminar to help professional and business services exporters as part of the Liverpool International Festival of Business. Further regional outreach events are being planned.</p><p> </p><p>The Professional and Business Services Council has been developing its views on the regulation of the sector, the associated role of adherence to high professional standards, and where there may be barriers to new business models. It is pursuing consultation with the wider sector on these issues.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency West Suffolk answering member printed Matthew Hancock grouped question UIN 222126 222127 222128 222129 222130 222131 222133 222513 question first answered 06/02/2015 15:11:14 answering member 4070 label Biography information for Matt Hancock
tabling member	1478 label Biography information for Mr Iain Wright

175925

registered interest
date	27/01/2015
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
hansard heading	Arts: Government Assistance
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what estimate he has made of the amount of Government support received by the creative industries through fiscal relief on investment and grant programmes; and what proportion such support is of the support given to other sectors included in his Department's industrial strategy.
tabling member constituency	Hartlepool
tabling member printed	Mr Iain Wright
uin	222145
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/02/2015 answer text <p>The Government have an excellent record of supporting UK creative industries, for example through fiscal relief, spending and programmes for the arts and culture, education and skills, digital and communications infrastructure, research and innovation, access to finance and international trade and investment.</p><p> </p><p>Following the success of UK film tax credits, which have generated billions in investment since 2010, we have introduced new corporation tax reliefs for high-end TV production, video games, animation and theatre. These targeted incentives are in addition to schemes such as the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS), Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) and Voluntary Capital Trusts (VCTs).</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Information on support for UK creative industries through specific reliefs and programmes is available from the responsible departments and public bodies.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Through industrial strategy, the whole of Government is working in partnership with industry in a range of sectors to set the long-term direction needed to give businesses the confidence to invest.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Wantage answering member printed Mr Edward Vaizey question first answered 04/02/2015 15:27:08 answering member 1580 label Biography information for Lord Vaizey of Didcot
tabling member	1478 label Biography information for Mr Iain Wright