Rt Hon Sir David Evennett, MP for Bexleyheath and Crayford attended an event in Parliament last week to show his support for National Apprenticeship Week 2019, which aims to highlight the benefits of apprenticeships to employers, individuals, local communities and the wider economy in a week-long celebration of apprenticeships.
The ‘Blaze a Trail’ themed week, running from 4 to 8 March 2019, is the 12th annual National Apprenticeship Week and will see a range of activities and events being hosted across the country, aimed at challenging the outdated views many people still have about apprenticeships.
At the Parliamentary event, Sir David met with apprentices to speak with them about their experiences and the impact they have had in their fields.
Last Friday (15 February), Sir David also visited Crayford business The Bookends Bindery Ltd, which is a small workshop, consisting solely of trained craftspeople whose principal speciality is book restoration and conservation. He was met by the owner, Sean Codling, and shown round the workshop while speaking with staff members Joe Dixon, Colin Barson and apprentice Sarah Bernard. The workshop is keen to take on apprentices to continue the book binding trade for years to come, and have held taster days to give an insight to the work they do.
Sir David commented: “I am delighted to be able to show my support for National Apprenticeship Week and to speak to some inspirational apprentices both in Parliament and in my constituency. Apprenticeships are a brilliant way for people to begin their career and have a clear pathway to a fantastic job”.
Apprenticeships and Skills Minister Anne Milton said: “Throughout National Apprenticeship Week people from industry, employers and across the public sector will be celebrating their apprentices and the amazingly positive impact they bring to the organisations that employ them. We want to raise awareness of apprenticeships, and we want to encourage more employers to start their own apprenticeship programme and really start to fire up their own business or organisation”.
