AQO 1113/22-27 Oral question to the Minister for the Economy
To ask the Minister for the Economy to provide an update on the Apprenticeship Challenge Fund.
Asked by Kellie Armstrong MLA on 24 October 2024
- Answered
- Oral
- Answered in the Chamber
- Tabled
- 24 October 2024
- Answer due by
- 12 November 2024
- Answered
- 12 November 202419 days after tabling
- Department
- Department for the Economy
- Priority question
- No
Answer
Answered in the Assembly Chamber on 12 November 2024. Extract from the Official Report (Hansard), including any supplementary questions:
Mr C Murphy
Our apprenticeship system has been growing, and we now have over 13,000 apprentices. However, women, people with disabilities and people from disadvantaged areas are under-represented. I want to address barriers to participation in apprenticeships for those groups. The apprenticeship inclusion challenge fund will drive collaboration across the education, business and voluntary and community sectors to develop and deliver innovative solutions to those inclusion challenges. I am pleased to update Members that the fund, which is worth more than £600,000, opened for applications on Wednesday 30 October. The fund will connect more people across our communities with good job opportunities, promote regional balance and inspire lifelong learning, in line with my economic priorities. Projects will commence in January 2025.
Ms K Armstrong
Thank you, Minister. What proactive engagement will you undertake to promote the apprenticeship inclusion challenge fund among businesses and individuals in order to meet your targets?
Mr C Murphy
There was already significant engagement before the fund opened. I think that there have been over 200 sessions with over 200 stakeholders across education, training, employers, industry and the voluntary and community sectors.
Those sessions were intended to help to raise awareness of the fund and encourage participation.
As I said, the fund has opened. The application window will be open for six weeks and will close on 6 December. I encourage all elected public representatives who have an interest in the area to make sure that they spread the word among their constituents.
Mr Boylan
Will the Minister expand on who is eligible to apply for the funding?
Mr C Murphy
Over £600,000 has been put into the fund. Applications have been open since 30 October and will close after six weeks. We encourage applications from people who have experience or interest in the apprenticeship system and also from organisations that are not directly involved in current apprenticeships delivery but have an interest in becoming involved in that, because we certainly want to expand the proposition for apprentices and try to get as many people as possible involved in that.