Its summer – back to work!
Dear Reader,
This summer, Liberal Democrat MPs and Peers are going back to the shop floor and finding out what it is like to be an apprentice.
For my part, I spent some time last week stepping into the shoes of 18-year-old Genna Hibberson, an apprentice pharmacy technician in Sheffield. It’s a tricky job. You have to be very precise when handling medicines because there’s no room for error when you’re dealing with people’s health – is it the right dose? Are the instructions correct? Is it in the right container? Everything has to be double and triple checked.
Luckily, Genna was very patient with me. I definitely didn’t show anything close to the talent or expertise she has, but at least she reassured me I didn’t make any mistakes!
So far this summer, a number of Lib Dem MPs and Peers have got stuck in at workplaces around the country and more will be doing so in August and September. For example, Danny Alexander has spent time as an apprentice butcher and baker at his local Morrison’s; John Leech went to work at a social housing company; and Andrew Stunell has mucked in at an Aldi branch.
It’s about practising what we preach and selling the benefits of apprenticeships to young people and employers.
I’m hugely proud of the massive expansion of apprenticeships that Liberal Democrats have overseen in government – more than a million new apprentices since 2010.
As part of our A Million Jobs for a Stronger Economy campaign I want all Liberal Democrats to bang the drum about apprentices. I want us to tell young people how great they are for getting into skilled, challenging and well-paid careers. And I want us to tell businesses that taking on apprentices gives them the skilled workers they need to thrive and expand.
Yours
.
Nick