Following a query from a constituent local MP Sheryll Murray contacted the Government to highlight the disparity that did not allow for agricultural apprenticeships. In her letter to the Minister Sheryll acknowledged that rules under the Common Agricultural Policy could be a problem but asked that funding be exempt from EU State Aid Rules.
Sheryll’s letter led to discussions with DEFRA and state aid issues that were blocking eligibility for agricultural apprenticeships were resolved. Employers of agricultural apprenticeships are now eligible to apply for the Apprenticeship Grant for Employers (AGE).
In a statement Sheryll said, “This is fantastic news for people wanting to get into farming. It is such an important industry to the local area and this anomaly seemed so unfair. I am pleased that we have managed to rectify this situation and I would encourage young people to look at the wide range of apprenticeships available.
“The Government is massively increasing the number of apprenticeships to ensure there are high-quality alternatives to university. Over the lifetime of this parliament, the government will fund 250,000 more apprenticeships than the last government planned. They have already achieved a 63 per cent increase in the number of people starting an apprenticeship. In the year to August 2011, 457,200 people started an apprenticeship, up 177,000 on the previous year.
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Attached: Letter from Dept for Business, Innovation and skills.
Pictured: Sheryll at a previous Liskeard Agricultural Show.
Contact: Sheryll Murray MP’s office on 01579 344428