Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on increasing apprenticeship opportunities for young people in a) Newcastle-under-Lyme and b) Staffordshire.

This Government is transforming the Apprenticeships Levy into a new Growth and Skills Levy in England, backed by over £1 billion of additional investment. This will support 50,000 more young people across the country, including in Newcastle-under-Lyme and Staffordshire, into apprenticeships over the next three years. Young people and employers in Newcastle-under-Lyme and Staffordshire will also benefit from a range of additional measures to increase apprenticeship opportunities and support recruitment.

In August 2025, we introduced foundation apprenticeships to give young people a new route into careers in critical sectors, enabling them to earn while they learn, and in April 2026 expanded the offer to hospitality and retail, creating more opportunities for young people at the start of their careers. Foundation apprenticeships come with £2,000 of additional funding for employers to contribute to the extra costs of supporting someone at the beginning of their career.

As of August this year, the Government fully funds apprenticeship training costs for all eligible under 25 apprentices for employers of all sizes. We have also introduced a £2,000 hiring payment for non-levy employers who recruit 16–24-year-old apprentices as new employees. Employers recruiting apprentices aged 18-24 who have been on Universal Credit for over six months may also be eligible for the new £3,000 Youth Jobs Grant.

In addition, employers and training providers each receive £1,000 when they take on apprentices aged under 19, or 19-to-24-year-old apprentices who have an EHCP or have been, or are, in care. These payments can be combined where eligibility criteria are met.

Finally, the Government also funds and supports the Apprenticeship Ambassador Network (AAN) which comprises over 2,000 employers and apprentices who actively volunteer to promote the benefits of apprenticeships. It operates across all parts of England, including in Staffordshire and Newcastle-under-Lyme, through nine regional networks. These networks provide buddying and mentoring support to small businesses to help them recruit and retain apprentices.