Engineering apprenticeships expand ... and quangos contract
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Business Secretary Vince Cable (pictured) said today (19 July) there is currently unmet employer demand for apprenticeships at advanced and higher level, particularly in sectors such as engineering. Speaking at the Farnborough International Airshow, he said the Government was working to expand apprenticeships at Level 3 and above and is improving progression routes from foundation level and into higher levels and professionals skills.
As part of this commitment, Vince Cable has agreed to chair regular meetings with aerospace business leaders to focus on major strategic issues facing the aerospace sector. "The breadth of expertise in this sector is incredible, but for our industry to maintain its position in the global market, we will need a new generation of inspired workers with the skills and new ideas to push aerospace forwards.
"This government working together with industry will support the sector by delivering the right skills where they are needed most. We will encourage a new generation of talent by investing in high level apprenticeships and sustaining a high-performing research environment."
In another, unrelated statement, the Business Secretary also announced the next step in cutting the number of Department for Business quangos with the abolition of four more organisations.
The Strategic Advisory Board for Intellectual Property policy (SABIP), SITPRO (Simplifying International Trade) and the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Advisory Body (WAB) will all close in the next year. The British Shipbuilders Corporation will be abolished next year.
The functions of SABIP will pass to the Intellectual Property Office, and the functions carried out by the remaining organisations will be passed to the Department for Business Innovation and Skills.
The announcement comes as part of the Government's commitment to reducing the number and cost of quangos and builds on the 13 Public Bodies closures that have already been announced.
Vince Cable said: "We are absolutely committed to reducing the number and cost of quangos that we no longer need. I have already said that I want to reduce the number of these bodies by a third and we've achieved a lot in a short space of time. This is the latest phase of that work.
"By bringing these functions back into Government, we make their activities more accountable and can reduce the considerable administrative costs that they place on the taxpayer."
Today's announcement brings the total number of BIS quangos to be abolished, merged or receive no further funding from the Department to 17. The next phase of streamlining, which is likely to account for the remainder of bodies identified for in-year reform, is expected to be announced in the Autumn.
