The 4th- 8th March is National Apprenticeship Week; the focus this year is on the new energy and passion apprentices can bring into businesses and organisations. And it’s not just young people starting out that benefit from apprenticeships, but also those later on in life, or those looking to reskill or change careers. I’m looking forward to visiting a local business, EI Group Plc, this week and meeting the apprentices there to learn more about what their roles entail, and how they see their careers developing. If you are interested in taking on an apprentice, or becoming one, please do look up apprenticeships on gov.uk
8th March is also International Women’s Day, and so in that vein, it is worth mentioning the increasing number of female apprentices in STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths). It is an area where there is a huge space for women to make their mark, and one where women can really flourish if they give it a go.
It’s never too early to start learning skills for life and Scouts do that while having great fun. Last year, at least 1365 young people in the Meriden constituency took part in Scouting. This is made possible by the generosity and commitment of the adults that volunteer each week, long may their good work continue.
In the meantime, I am still fighting to protect constituents’ jobs, meeting with many industry leaders and pushing to ensure that there is a Brexit deal that protects jobs, food and medicine supplies, and provides certainty for the coming months for all constituents. I have been working hard to help Brexit go ahead, which is what my constituents voted for in the referendum. Constituents voted leave, and I am working to deliver exactly that without hindrance, and without a disorderly no deal that would weaken the UK. Those that say that no deal is ‘no problem’ must listen to what the TUC, the CBI, the Bank of England, the food and drink industry, medical industry, tech industry, manufacturing industry, ceramics industry, universities, environmental organisations to name but a few, and the majority of parliament across all political parties say. No deal is NOT a favourable option for the UK.
Nor is it a constructive ‘bargaining tool’ with the EU. It hasn’t worked so far in negotiations, and undermines constructive conversations, when both sides know that is not what they want. As Carolyn Fairbairn from the CBI explained, you cannot go into a business negotiation saying, ‘if I don’t get what I want I’ll shoot myself in the foot.’ That doesn’t work as leverage for the other side. Instead, ruling out No Deal can secure the important improvements we need to get a Deal which commands a majority.
Dame Caroline Spelman
