The value of vocational education

I am very pleased to have secured an adjournment debate in Westminster Hall to coincide with the annual celebrations of Vocational Qualifications (VQ) Day. The very survival of the small businesses that I meet in my constituency and the British economy overall is that we urgently tackle the productivity gap that exists between ourselves and our major economic competitors. This will be a major focus for me during this Parliament.

Lord Baker, the former Education Secretary, in a paper entitled ‘The Skills Mismatch’ identified that a degree no longer guarantees success, while looming skills shortages mean there are great prospects for people with technical and vocational skills.

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VQ Day celebrates the achievements of vocational learners, teachers and employers from across the country. Now in its eighth year, its long running success is testament to the talent of young people who have chosen to pursue a vocational pathway and the FE Colleges and Learning Providers. It’s by recognising these achievements that we continue to raise the profile and quality of technical, practical and vocational skills.

Our education policy must adapt and recognise the inherent value of vocational education to young people, to society and to the economy as a whole. We have been saying for too long that young people need to be equipped with the skills they need to succeed, through increased provision of apprenticeships, further and higher education. So I am pleased to see the prominence of apprenticeships in the Government’s legislative programme.

David Cameron has pledged to oversee the creation of three million more apprenticeships during his second term in office. The demand for apprenticeships is growing, with new figures suggesting as many as 11 applicants per apprenticeship place.

I believe we need to go further than just the creation of more apprenticeship places. High quality vocational education that enhances Britain’s productivity needs to be at the heart of our approach to deliver a truly competitive workforce.