The announcement this week of new departments focussed on Energy: cutting bills, improving security and delivery on Net Zero and on Science and Tech: driving innovation and building on the huge international success that is the UK science base, are both extremely welcome.
The UK is the destination annually of billions of pounds of investment in these industries of the future. To retain that cutting edge we need to use the flexibility of being outside the EU and the profusion of top tier UK Universities and research to create a supportive environment for innovation and growth.
We also need to ensure we can provide the skilled employees these industries require. This week is National Apprenticeship Week. Apprenticeships continue to be a hugely popular alternative to University and as a route to retrain later life. With funding for apprenticeships increasing to £2.7 billion by 2024-5, no fewer than 349,190 apprenticeships commenced last year.
Among them were 610 apprenticeships in the Horsham constituency. I have consistently heard positive comments from those who have embarked down this route but anyone who has who would be willing to describe the benefits to those considering their options please do get in touch!
This week I attended a drop-in session in Parliament to mark ‘Safer Internet Day’, meeting Emily – a student from Bohunt who is a ‘Digital Leader’ from Childnet’s Digital Leaders Programme. Research from the Safer Internet Centre has found that 44% of young people are keen to support and promote being safe online at school and I am so pleased that Emily is one of them.
Ensuring we get this right through legislation is important – but so also is ensuring that parents and children are able to discuss on-line content and in doing so help prevent exploitation. This week is also Children’s Mental Health Week. This year’s theme is “Let’s Connect”. Social Media can be a force for good, and Government seeks to ensure children are protected while on-line, but it really is vital that children and parents can talk about on line content.