Last week, the UK celebrated National Apprentice week. In 2010, had you said that you could become a doctor, a lawyer, a teacher or an accountant through an apprenticeship, no one would have believed you. Fast forward 14 years, working with over 5,000 businesses, this Government has made this a reality. In fact, nearly 70% of all occupations can be entered via an apprenticeship. Over these years, 5.7 million apprenticeships have been delivered for young people. There are now over 170 degree-level apprenticeships available, backed by a record £2.7 billion of funding.
In our area, the outstanding Chichester College Group specialises in offering qualifications to support apprentices, including at Brinsbury College in Adversane, and works closely with leading employers including Boeing, Rolls Royce, Taylor Wimpey, Hilton Hotel, RSPCA as well as the NHS and local councils.
Last week, on behalf of residents, I spoke to the Planning Inspectors about my concerns around the route of the proposed Rampion 2 ‘cable motorway’. Many residents feel that the developers have conducted a poor consultation and have failed to properly explore the alternatives of the proposed route which will cause considerable blight on local villages. They have burdened the many landowners, farmers and parish councils with additional costs from the need to employ professionals to support their detailed feedback and highlight areas of concern.
I was also critical of the decision to hold the Hearing in Brighton when none of the impacts are felt in Brighton but are wholly within a section of the South Downs nowhere near Brighton. It is quite clearly our smaller South Downs parishes which will be facing many years of disruptions on their narrow roads and local landscapes while the heavy construction work is undertaken. In my representation, I made this point clear, and I spoke about my concerns of permanent ‘scarring’ (which is still visible from the last Rampion construction) and the immense impact on local biodiversity.
