Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking through the provision of apprenticeships to tackle skills shortages in manufacturing in Calder Valley.

This government is transforming the apprenticeships offer into a new growth and skills offer, which will give greater flexibility to employers and learners across the country, including in Calder Valley, and support the industrial strategy.

We know that skills gaps are holding back business growth across the country and that is why the government is supporting employers to invest in skills training. Employers have long been calling for greater flexibility in the apprenticeships levy, and we are delivering this.

In August, we reduced the minimum duration of an apprenticeship to 8 months so that shorter apprenticeships are possible. All sectors will be able to make use of this flexibility where this is appropriate for the role or the apprentice. These flexibilities will help more people learn new high-quality skills at work and fuel innovation in businesses across the country.

Additionally, we have introduced new foundation apprenticeships, to give young people a route into careers in critical sectors, enabling them to earn a wage while developing vital skills. The first foundation apprenticeships are focussed on industrial strategy and priority areas including engineering and manufacturing.

They will be underpinned by an employer incentive payment of up to £2,000 to contribute to the extra costs of supporting someone at the beginning of their career. This is in addition to the £1,000 we pay to employers when they take on apprentices aged under 19, or 19-to-24-year-old apprentices who have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) or have been, or are, in care.