SINCE being elected in May 2010, Harlow MP Robert Halfon has been a champion of apprentices.

Last week, during a debate on Opportunities for the Next Generation in the House of Commons, Mr Halfon said: “In Essex, nearly 4,000 young people are not in employment, education or training, with Harlow being one of the worst-affected towns.”

He highlighted that in the year 2000, there were about 600,000 people aged 16-24 not in employment, education or training.
“By 2010, the number of jobless had doubled to well over one million, where it has remained today.”
Given this high level of youth unemployment, Mr Halfon is urging that measures are taken to deal with this serious issue.
Mr Halfon said this improvement should “start in our schools”.
Mr Halfon welcomes the Government’s expansion in Academies and Free Schools. He also supports the new focus on yielding results and is proud to support many students in Harlow who have recently gained impressive GCSE results.

He also believes that we must build up vocational education and welcomes the Government funding over 100,000 sponsored work experience placements for jobless 18 to 21-year-olds.

He added: “Improving youth unemployment can only be achieved if we encourage the right climate for employers to create jobs.
“The Government have made steps to create a job-friendly climate by introducing the Work Programme, lower taxes for lower earners, cuts in small business tax and welfare reform.”

Mr Halfon has always believed that this issue should not be made party political and has openly supported MP for Newcastle North, Catherine McKinnell, who has put forward a proposal to Parliament. This proposal would require companies winning large public contracts to provide apprenticeships as part of their bid.
Mr Halfon said: “I urge the Government to implement this proposal, not just nationally but in local councils. I have called for this repeatedly, and I have discussed it with members of Essex County Council, who are taking a serious look at it.”

Read more here:


Mr Halfon, who is co-chair of the All Party Group on Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning, understands the importance of public procurement in addressing the issue of youth unemployment, and is currently in the process of recruiting his new Apprentice to his Westminster Office.