Written question asked by Graham Stuart (Conservative) on Friday, 13 January 2012, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 17 January 2012. It was answered by John Hayes (Conservative) on Thursday, 19 January 2012 on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

Technology: Apprentices

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether his Department attaches any priority to provision of apprenticeships in high technology manufacturing and exporting areas including engineering, IT and science.

Answer: Focusing investment and efforts where apprenticeships will have the greatest impact and deliver the greatest returns is a priority for this Government.Significant work is being done across Science Technology Engineering and Maths (STEM) related sectors, for example stimulating employer engagement and raising demand for apprenticeships through a new Memorandum of Understanding between the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) and the Sector Skills Council for Science, Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies (SEMTA); the development of innovative delivery models for STEM apprenticeships, and a SEMTA-led consortium of providers and employers delivering a new Advanced Manufacturing Higher Apprenticeship Framework. This is a project funded by the Higher Apprenticeship Fund, and it is noteworthy that seven out of the 19 winning bids from the recent Higher Apprenticeship Fund prospectus came from the STEM sector.

Secondary information