Debate contribution: Apprenticeships

Debate contribution by Mr Phillip Brett on 5 March 2024.

MLA

Mr Phillip Brett

Party at the time

Democratic Unionist Party

Date

5 March 2024

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Private Members' Business

Heading

Apprenticeships

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 4252855

Read the official Assembly record

Text

I beg to move

I am delighted to propose the motion this afternoon to recognise the importance of the apprenticeship sector to the Northern Ireland economy, and to outline how all of us in the House can work together to build on that success. In light of that genuine desire to build a stronger economy by working together, I am delighted to accept the amendment that will be proposed by my Economy Committee colleague Ms Eastwood. I look forward to working with all Members across the House to make the aims of the motion a reality. Our motion seeks to recognise the important commitments that have been made to date by the Executive but goes further by calling for the Minister to set out ambitious targets for increasing Northern Ireland's apprenticeship offering by the end of the mandate. I thank the Minister for his attendance this afternoon, which shows his willingness to work with all Members to make that a reality. I welcome the comments of the Economy Minister, when he outlined his economic vision to the House a few short weeks ago. One of the key ways in which the Minister outlined his vision was by stating the important role that we have in increasing the number of good jobs that are available. The skills strategy for Northern Ireland, which was published in March 2022 by the then Minister Lyons, made it clear that, if we are to make our economy 10 times stronger, 10 times more prosperous and 10 times more resilient, it will require transformation in our skills system. The skills of our people are the primary driver of our success. I would welcome the Minister outlining his commitment to build on the strength of the skills strategy that was published in 2022. The Democratic Unionist Party has proudly spearheaded the 10X strategy, which received the backing of key business and educational leaders across Northern Ireland. We recognise it as a crucial tool in closing the skills gap and in building a workforce that will take our economy to even greater heights.

I thank the Member for her intervention. I know that she and her colleague Mr Brooks have eloquently articulated the need to ensure that that campus remains open. I know that they have put those comments on the record to the Minister. They make a strong case for their constituents. The new Economy Minister has signalled, on the record, his intention to deliver key recommendations contained in the 10X strategy, and he can be assured of my party's support as we work together to achieve that. At the centre of the strategy is a clear commitment that we must focus our attention on the sectors that are best placed to add value in the global economy. Because of our productivity edge — a productivity edge that our people help us to secure — in that context it is impossible to overstate the importance of apprenticeships and investment in skills. My party is extremely proud of our record in driving forward the Northern Ireland economy. The economy of 2007 is virtually unrecognisable when set against the economy of 2024, but that cannot be the limit of our ambition. We owe it to the next generation to set our aim and our gaze even higher and to deliver an even stronger economy. Central to that is the role of apprenticeships. We want to provide the conditions for more economic growth and to ensure that there is confidence in all aspects of the sector that we have the people and the skills ready to deliver. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it was DUP Economy Ministers who led the apprenticeship recovery package to minimise apprenticeship loss, and it was Minister Dodds who launched a new supply chain and logistics course for higher-level apprentices at the Northern Regional College. I put on record my support for and commitment to the FE sector in Northern Ireland. I am proud to have the Newtownabbey campus, which, I know, the Minister visited recently. On occasion, we fail to recognise the importance of the FE sector. I send a clear message that it plays an important role in delivering for our communities and our economy in all sections of Northern Ireland. As an MLA for North Belfast — it would not be a speech if I did not mention my constituency — I made a pledge to my constituents that no one there would be left behind. I made a pledge to them that I would ensure that they would not be denied the economic opportunities that their predecessors were denied as a result of our troubled past. I made a pledge to the communities that I represent that economic exclusion would no longer be tolerated. I made it clear to them that the factories that overshadow their homes would be welcoming and open to them. To that end, I want to reference a few of the organisations that have helped to remove the barriers to economic opportunities in North Belfast: Impact Training; Women'sTec; Rathcoole Boxing Club; the Hubb Centre; RATH Community Group; the Ashton Centre; Newtownabbey Arts and Cultural Network; Queenspark Women's Group; and the list goes on and on. Each of them shares my vision of ensuring that everyone has an opportunity. Our greatest economic asset is our people, and global investors rightly recognise the ambitions and skills that the people of Northern Ireland have to offer. However, we can maintain and build on that investment only if we have the pipeline of skilled workers who can adapt to an ever-changing economy. That is the case even more so now, as the global economy pivots towards green growth and other exciting, fast-moving industries. This offering needs to keep pace with the demand for skills from people and employers. Apprenticeships have been key to our success in the past. As an Assembly, we must commit not only to increasing funding for skills but to promoting apprenticeships across all age sectors in our economy. As Chairman of the Economy Committee, I receive this clear message from investors: apprenticeships in Northern Ireland are of an exceptionally high standard, so let us commit to continue to work together and set ambitious targets that we can reach. The wide range of sectoral opportunities continues to grow almost weekly. From accountancy, construction, health and beauty to IT and transport and all in between, those offer opportunities to all the people of Northern Ireland. For many young people, it is an opportunity to earn whilst gaining a recognised qualification. For others, it is an opportunity to step into a new career path. In growing our apprenticeship offering, the Executive must ensure that it is fully included in the careers advice offered in schools, the further education sector, training and in job centres. The Committee for the Economy has been keen to work with the Committee for Education to ensure that we have a well-rounded careers advice service in Northern Ireland. Those wrap-around services will be vital to ensuring that we continue to move that forward. The motion rightly recognises the intention to improve entry routes to and career progression in our health system by establishing a new nursing higher-level apprenticeship framework. However, nursing is not the only profession in which our health service would benefit from a renewed focus on apprenticeships. In other parts of the United Kingdom, occupational therapy apprenticeships have been available since 2019. They play a vital role in freeing up front-line services in the health system. I encourage the Minister for the Economy to continue to work with his colleague the Minister of Health to develop those proposals. It is now more important than ever that the House commits to working together on these issues. All-age apprenticeships also offer opportunities to all people in all walks of life. Removing the age cap on apprenticeships was a welcome step by the previous Executive. I am sure that the Minister will want to recommit his intentions to continue to have that cap lifted. We have the opportunity to continue to build on the success of our apprenticeship sector and set our sights even higher. We have an opportunity to commit to continue to work together to build an economy that is ready for the future — an economy that delivers for every community in every corner of Northern Ireland. I commend the motion to the House.

1,398 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

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Assessed 21 October 2026 at 09:50 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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