Skills, Apprenticeships and Levelling Up

Earlier this week the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Family Business hosted a roundtable discussion in Parliament on the important role that skills and apprenticeships have to play in levelling up towns and regions across the UK.

The event, led by APPG Chair John Stevenson MP, featured guest speakers Toby Perkins MP, Shadow Minister for Apprenticeship and Skills, and Francesca Fraser, Senior Researcher at Onward, and brought together stakeholders from across the family business sector.

The discussion covered a range of issues, including the potential opportunities of the Levelling Up white paper, and the practical steps that need to be taken to ensure progress in delivering on its key priorities. Panellists also discussed the Government’s planned reforms to the Apprenticeship Levy, announced in the Spring Statement, and set the practical steps that need to be taken to promote the opportunities of apprenticeships to the next generation of business leaders.

Fiona Graham, Director of External Affairs and Policy at the Institute for Family Businesses, said: “What was clear from the discussion with our expert panellists was that in order help fulfil this Government’s ambition of moving our country towards a high-skilled, high-growth economy, we will need to see changes across our education system to help create stronger links between schools and colleges and family businesses offering vital apprenticeship schemes. This should be alongside significant reform to Apprenticeship Levy, to help ensure the Government created the appropriate economic conditions for family businesses to provide the next generation with life-long career skills.”

John Stevenson MP, who had been re-elected as Chair of the Group, said: “I am honoured to be able to continue my work as the Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Family Business, recognising the important contribution family businesses make to the economy and employing 50 per cent of the UK workforce.

“We have many incredible family businesses in Carlisle, with successful stories of investment and business growth. They are key to our local economy and pay an integral part in the Government’s levelling up agenda, employing, retaining and developing local people, creating opportunities for our young people through apprenticeship schemes and generating employment opportunities in other sectors.

“I’m delighted to be able to carry on representing the sector in Parliament.”