Reform plots 600,000 new apprenticeships for young Brits by axing ‘Mickey Mouse’ degrees and foreign student loans

YOUNG Brits will have 30 per cent of their apprentice wages covered by the taxpayer under Reform plans for a major “skills revolution”. Nigel Farage‘s party say they will save small businesses employing 16-18 year-olds around £4,000 per year. Reform’s education spokesperson Suella Braverman said she wants to see an economic and social renaissance across the country Credit: Shutterstock Editorial Nigel Farage’s party claim the policy will save around £4,000 a year for SME businesses It will cost taxpayers’ around £1.5billion over five years with Reform insisting the bill will be clawed back elsewhere. The cash will come partly from scrapping taxpayer funded loans for foreign students and funding for “Micky Mouse” degrees. Sign up for the Politics newsletter Thank you! It will create an extra 600,000 apprenticeships for young Brits by the end of Reform’s first term in government, the party claimed. Reform’s education spokesperson Suella Braverman said: “I want an economic and social renaissance, not because it fills me with jingoistic pride but because this country needs it. “We need a restoration and renewal of this country, so that once again, we are training up our own with the skills that we all need to be a functioning country.” There are 140,000 fewer apprenticeships being undertaken compared to 2017, according to Reform analysis. Apprenticeship levels have fallen to their lowest levels since 2011-12, just three years after the global financial crash. Opportunities for young Brits have fallen 40 per cent in manufacturing, engineering and plumbing, 60 per cent in painting and decorating and 75 per cent in health and social care. Most read in The Sun Ms Braverman said the ambitious target will be fulfilled by the end of Reform’s first term in Government. She added: “My message to young people is simple, your success is our country’s success and we want a stake in it. We are on your side and that is why we are willing to invest in you right at the beginning of your career.” McLoughlin Group Holdings managing director Kevin McLoughlin said the target showed Reform were “serious about investing in young people.” He said: “We need an apprenticeship policy that will incentivise the SMEs that keep Britain running. “I was an apprentice myself and now as a business owner I know a 30% reduction in the cost of employing an apprentice shows Reform are serious about investing in young people and lowering the cost of running a business. “The Apprenticeship Wage Credit shows Reform UK are prepared to invest in young people and the skills this country needs.” Reform also says it will save taxpayers millions by slashing funding for “Mickey Mouse” degrees at third-rate universities. Reform to introduce an Apprenticeship Wage Credit By SUELLA BRAVERMAN WE used to be a country that built and made things. A country of doers, traders and makers. Britain led the Industrial Revolution. Now, it seems that our country is just a collection of unemployed young people and delivery drivers. Reform UK is determined to end this. How did Britain achieve greatness? Largely through apprenticeships. Masters and apprentices worked hand in glove, passing down trades like treasured heirlooms. To save this country, to bring back its greatness, we need a skills revolution. We need more homegrown restoration of British talent, more plumbers, painters, electricians, bricklayers, engineers and health and social care workers. Currently we have 1 million young people not in education, employment or training and 700,000 graduates unemployed. When I was growing up, people left school and many went into a trade, but now too many kids are getting into endless debt by wasting their lives at university. This must end. Reform will introduce an Apprenticeship Wage Credit. We will fund 30% of a young apprentices wage for the duration of their course. I am announcing this because I want our country to invest in young people and to have a stake in their success right from the beginning of their careers. Today, many young people will be getting their GCSE results. I want to get to a stage where kids want to choose an apprenticeship not because it is a fallback option, but because it is a route to wealth, success and fulfillment. Funding 30% of a new apprentices wage shows how serious we are about changing this country and turning it around for the better. Comment now