Why Labour?

Up against the competition of two billion people in emerging nations, India and China, with their huge resources and aspirations, we cannot afford to waste the talents of any person. Our aim in government must be to make the most of the abilities of every person and to create new opportunities in response to a changing world so that no one gets left behind and that everyone can share in the rising prosperity of Britain.

Since 1997, Labour has made progress on the skills level of our nation. Today we have more young people at univeristy than ever before. And we have helped 1.7 million more adults gain literacy and numeracy qualifications.

Key achievements:

• More young people are attending university than ever before.
• Since 1997, Labour has doubled the number of apprenticeships starts to over 180,000 today and completion rates have more than doubled in the last 5 years, up to 63 per cent today
• Labour will have 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, by the end of 2008.
• 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)
• Labour’s Train to Gain service has engaged with over 52,000 employers, helping nearly a quarter of a million workers improve their skills. The Skills Pledge has been signed by over 550 employers, covering over 4 million employees.
• Labour invests £18 million each year in union learning. We now have over 20,000 union learning reps supporting workers to change their lives by improving their skills.

Winning the fight for Britain's future:

• By 2015, Labour will 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 one third of students will receive a full grant of £2,835, in total two thirds of students will receive a partial grant.
• To raise the aspirations of all young people, Labour will offer 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.
• 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 by 90,000 by 2013, to ensure there is a place for every suitably qualified young person who wants one.
• We will raise the minimum weekly pay for Apprentices to £95 a week. It will be young women - apprentices like those in hairdressing and care – who will benefit most. 
• We will increase the Train to Gain budget to over £1 billion by 2010/2011 to help more adults develop their skills