Mansfield MP Ben Bradley visited the Little Beauty Barn on Little Barn Lane in the town to offer his support for apprentices during National ApprenticeshipWeek.

He met Sue Haywood and her team, including a work experience student, a new apprentice and one team member who has just qualified.

Apprenticeships form a key part of national plans for getting people in to work and have been a priority for Government for many years. There are three quarters of a million people taking Apprenticeships across England (at last count 2018/19), including 1,500 people each year here in Mansfield (consistently for the last three years).

Ben has been a vocal advocate for vocational and work-based learning, both on the Education Select Committee and as vice-chair of the all-party group for skills and employment in the House of Commons.

He said: “It was a pleasure to visit and the Little Beauty Barn is a great example of how local apprenticeships can offer exactly what both a business and local young people need.

“It’s also great to see improving relationships with local businesses and West Notts College, who I know have made this a big priority, and have worked a lot on communication with business.

“As a Government and locally we need to do more to explain the benefits, to simplify the process and to support more apprentices at all sorts of different levels, right up to degree level and higher apprenticeships.”

Sue added: “It’s lovely to see our local MP taking interest in small businesses locally. Young people need to be given opportunities such as work experience & apprenticeships to improve their work and employability skills.

“As an employer it’s refreshing to see young people willing to put the effort required into gaining a qualification. We support all our trainees through Vision West Notts in their personal & professional development.”

Louise Knott, vice-principal at West Nottinghamshire College, said: “Apprenticeships are a great way of engaging young people into the world of work, giving them essential skills that will make them successful, not just in their future careers, but in life.

“We want our college to be at the centre of this community’s economic prosperity and making sure that our young people play a part in this is essential. I would encourage any employer to come and talk to us about the value that an apprentice or a work placement student can add to their business.”