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Written question asked by Matt Vickers (Conservative) on Thursday, 20 November 2025, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 24 November 2025. It was answered by Ian Murray (Labour) on Friday, 28 November 2025 on behalf of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

Arts: Apprentices

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to increase participation in creative apprenticeships in the North East.

Answer

The government is committed to empowering local leaders to take decisions related to their local skills needs. As part of this, DCMS is providing £25m to the North East Strategic Authority through the Creative Places Growth Fund. This will allow areas to distribute funding according to local barriers and opportunities and maximise the impact of national interventions, including supporting regional skills initiatives like apprenticeships.

More broadly, this government is transforming the apprenticeships offer into a new growth and skills offer, which will offer greater flexibility to employers and learners. In the Creative Industries Sector Plan, we committed to working with industry to refine and develop this offer, to deliver apprenticeships and skills training that recognises the particular needs of the sector.

This will build on flexi-job apprenticeship agencies and new flexibilities like shorter apprenticeships, which were introduced in August. From April 2026, we will also introduce short course ‘apprenticeship units’ in areas such as digital and AI, to support Industrial Strategy sectors like the Creative Industries.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
93281
Session
2024-26
Subjects
Apprentices Arts North East
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk