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<p>We have introduced a wide range of reforms to improve the quality of apprenticeships
and to encourage employers across England to create more high-quality apprenticeship
opportunities.</p><p> </p><p>Since May 2010, there have been 4,392,000 apprenticeship
starts in England. Of these, 7,200 apprenticeships starts have been in the Harlow
parliamentary constituency.</p><p> </p><p>From August 2020, all starts will be on
the new apprenticeship standards which are replacing existing frameworks. These are
designed and driven by industry to create apprenticeships that are high-quality providing
employers in Harlow, and across England, with the skills they need. Over 510 standards
have already been approved for delivery to apprentices.</p><p> </p><p>We are working
hard to encourage take up of our apprenticeship programme. The third phase of the
Fire it Up campaign launched in January 2020 with a planned media investment for this
phase of £2.9 million. It is targeting certain groups to widen participation in apprenticeships.
Our 13<sup>th</sup> annual National Apprenticeship Week took place in February 2020.
Nearly 900 events were held across the country, aiming to change perceptions of apprenticeships.</p><p>In
January 2018, we introduced a legal requirement for schools to give training providers
the chance to talk to pupils about technical qualifications and apprenticeships, so
that young people hear about the alternatives to academic routes.</p><p> </p><p>We
also offer a free service to schools through the Apprenticeship Support and Knowledge
for Schools and Colleges (ASK) programme to ensure that teachers have the knowledge
and support to enable them to promote apprenticeships to their students. In the last
academic year, ASK reached over 300,000 students throughout England. In Harlow, ASK
has worked with 8 schools and colleges and has engaged with 840 students in the last
three academic years.</p><p> </p><p>In the 2019-20 financial year, funding available
for investment in apprenticeships in England is over £2.5 billion – double what was
spent in 2010. This is supporting employers of all sizes, across England, to provide
high-quality apprenticeship opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds.
We are moving smaller employers onto our award-winning apprenticeship service to give
them a greater choice of training providers. They can also benefit from transferred
funds from levy payers. Levy transfers can help to support new starts in supply chains
and address local skills needs.</p><p> </p><p>Essex County Council and the South East
Local Enterprise Partnership are members of the East of England Apprenticeship Ambassador
Network. They are working with local employers to take advantage of transfers to support
more small- and medium-sized employers in the area to offer apprenticeships.</p>
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