Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the claimant count data for Leicester East constituency in the Office for National Statistics document entitled Employment in the UK: September 2026, published on 15 September 2026, what steps his Department is taking to expand local apprenticeship schemes and adult Skills Bootcamps to assist people in receipt of unemployment-related benefits in Leicester into employment.

This government is transforming the Apprenticeships Levy into a new Growth and Skills Levy in England, backed by £1 billion of additional investment, which will support 50,000 more young people into apprenticeships and give employers, including in Leicester, greater flexibility to develop the workforce they need to grow and succeed.

To expand opportunities for young people, we are now fully funding apprenticeships for eligible young people under 25 and introducing a £2000 hiring payment for non-levy paying employers (typically SMEs) that recruit apprentices under 25 from October.

The government also facilitates and funds the Apprenticeship Ambassador Network (AAN) which comprises 3,000 employers and apprentices who volunteer to promote the benefits of apprenticeships, across England through nine regional networks, including in Leicester.

Regarding Skills Bootcamps, in line with its commitment to devolution, the government is giving local areas greater control over the delivery of Skills Bootcamps, enabling them to tailor the offer to the needs of local employers and their priorities for the economy. The Skills Bootcamps budget is £166 million in the 2026-27 financial year.