You are invited to the launch of a groundbreaking new scheme led by Robert Halfon MP, businesses, and the charitable sector, with one simple aim --- to give apprentices the same prestige and benefits as A-level and University students.

Robert Halfon MP has worked for over a year with the NUS to establish a national society of apprentices, of which this is the very first step (http://conservativehome.blogs.com/platform/2010/12/robert-halfon-mp-lets-establish-a-royal-society-of-apprenticeships.html)

The Apprentice Card will give apprentices discounts at restaurants, travel agents, and high street stores, as well as access to free support services such as legal advice. Plus, there will be social events, mentoring, and careers guidance. Other benefits in the pipeline are exclusive financial products. 

These are planned to include interest-free overdrafts and low-interest career development loans, to help apprentices access training.

Hosted in a new charitable fund, the pilot project will be launched in autumn 2011, with apprentices from Harlow College, PERA, GTA England, the Association of Accounting Technicians, Kaplan, and many more.

Together these companies represent tens of thousands of apprentices, placed at FTSE blue-chip firms including Jaguar-LandRover, Next Clothing, and JCB.

A full list of partners with detailed statistics will be available on the day.

You are invited to the launch event in Parliament, in the historic buildings of Westminster Hall.

The details are:

Venue: Jubilee Room, Westminster Hall, Parliament
Date: 22nd June
Time: 15:30 - 16:30
Title: Launch of the Apprentice Card

There will be refreshments.