Why Labour?

Labour's is investing in people throughout their lives to help them get on and ahead in the new economy. During this global economic downturn we must continue to invest in people so they have a fair chance to achieve their potential. The expansion of digital and green industries will offer new opportunities. We must be ready to seize these opportunities.

Since 1997, Labour has made progress in increasing skills. Today we have more young people at university than ever before. And in the last year alone over 800,000 accessed adult training through our Train to Gain workplace skills programme.   

Key achievements:

• More young people are attending university than ever before.
• Since 1997, Labour has rescued apprenticeships and built them up so they are well on their way to their rightful place as a mainstream option for young people. We are increasing the number of people starting apprenticeships so nearly  239,900  started last year up from less than a third of this in 1997.
• The overall apprenticeship success rate was 70.9% in 2008/09. This is significantly higher than the target of an apprenticeship success rate of 65% in 2008/09.This has risen from a quarter 6 years.
• Labour has invested up to £90 million in 12 employer-led National Skills Academies, which provide industry specific vocational education and training for school leavers and adults
• Labour is giving every 18 year old a right to public funding so that they can continue their training and education; at university or at college; in work or an apprenticeship – until they are 25 or they get a level 3 qualification (equivalent to 2 A levels)
• The Skills Pledge has been signed by over 11,000 employers, covering over 5.5 million employees By making the Skills Pledge employers commit to train their workforce to at least Level 2 – the equivalent of five good GCSEs, grades A–C. Employers who make the Skills Pledge can also access the support of a Train to Gain skills broker at no cost to their business.
• Labour’s funding for Unionlearn has provided 20,500 trained Union Learning Reps who last year alone helped over 200,000 workers back into learning.
• Next year Labour’s Train to Gain, helped  817,000 people start a course last year with over 540,000 gaining a qualification with over 850,000 in total receiving a qualification since 2006.

A future fair for all:

• Labour has legislated to raise the education and training leaving age so that every young person will be guaranteed an apprenticeship, training or a place to study at school or college up to 18.
• Labour has increased student grants so that over two thirds of students will get a grant of £2,906, in total two thirds of students will receive a partial grant.
• To raise the aspirations of all young people, Labour is offering 250,000 16 year olds, who qualify for the Education Maintenance Allowance, a clear guarantee of the minimum level of maintenance grant and loan they will receive if they go to university or college.
• Labour has pledged to open or commit funding to 20 new university campuses over the next 6 years.
• Within the next ten years we want one in five young people to be taking up apprenticeship places. In order to fulfil our ambition for young people, we will increase the number of 16-18 apprenticeships and are legislating to ensure every suitably qualified young person who wants to do an apprenticeship can do so.
• We will raise the minimum weekly pay for apprentices to £95 a week from September 2009.
• We are will aim to see 75% of young people achieve a degree or equivalent level qualification either on an academic or vocational course.