Apprentices: Advisory Services

Tony Baldry
To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills who will be responsible for providing information on apprenticeships for those aged over 25 years to (a) employers and (b) job seekers.

Mr. Lammy
Free impartial advice is available for employers, employees and job seekers through the “learndirect” and “next step” services, operated by the Learning and Skills Council. In addition, “Train to Gain” skills brokers provide specialised support to business on their skill needs, including apprenticeships. 

In “World Class Skills” (Cmnd 7181), published in July, we announced the creation of a new universal adult careers service. The unified service will work closely with Job Centre Plus. It will provide free access to every adult in England to a wide range of information, including apprenticeships, and will be fully operational from 2010-11.