Bill Midgley column

Jun 21 2006 By Bill Midgley, The Journal

I had often wondered why so many people in London seem to be walking to work in trainers.

It may, of course, be something to do with a fitness initiative in the capital, or as I realised last week, more likely because of the vagaries of the transport system. On a day when hundreds were stuck in Tubes for over two hours, and on the same day when it would appear that the entire taxi driver population had absented itself to watch some football match, the only certain way of travelling between two points in London is by the most basic form of transport of all. Needless to say, I was somewhat less than pleased, having arrived with a fairly heavy suitcase at my hotel from the Tube station some distance away.

The occasion, however, for my visit was to attend the Learning and Skills Council's Apprenticeship Awards. Having entered the awards ceremony in a fairly dark mood, after another 30 minute walk, I came out refreshed and enlightened, and suddenly aware that in spite of all our problems in the UK economy, there remains an impressive number of young people who have flair, imagination and drive. These young people, often with not the highest level of education, have begun apprenticeships and shown how determined they are to succeed. They have ideas, energy and youth, but more importantly, they have that will to succeed. What they particularly need, therefore, is the backing of employers and educational institutions, and it is very satisfying to report that, at long last, vocational education is taking a prime role and funders (notably the Learning and Skills Council) are promoting as never before the value of modern apprenticeships.

It was not only that so much talent was on view, but also just how many of these young people were employed in what are often called the "dirty jobs" such as those on the factory floor. Perhaps in spite of the gloom about manufacturing, there is still a future if we can harness even more of this will to succeed. A message, therefore, for the funding regimes, the educational institutions and employers, to work together to offer young people a real and rewarding future by supporting modern apprenticeships and showing just what might be achieved. This education starts in the schools, and those particularly good examples I witnessed last week perhaps ought to be mandatory viewing for 13 and 14-year olds.