Surrey County Council announced a new apprenticeship program that will provide training for 1,500 young people. The large scale of the program will cost the council £1.1 million and negatively impact other areas through budget cuts. While the apprenticeships will benefit participants and local businesses, ministers have expressed concerns that schools and transport services will face funding losses, such as increased bus fares and eliminated school trips. However, supporters argue that the program will boost economic growth and provide valuable career skills despite short-term cuts to other programs.

1. Aimee James Web-News Story JAM13357345
APPRENTICESHIPSCAUSE FINANCIALSTRUGGLESFOR SURREY
COUNTY COUNCIL
Economical factors have been brought to light after Surrey CC announced
apprenticeships for 1500 young people, earlier this week.
Minister for Surrey CC schools and learning has announced there will be cuts to
make room for the council’s new programme.
Each apprentice costs the Council £750 to go into work, with 1500 future
apprentices damaging Surrey CC by £1.1 million.
With a further £1500 in National Funding being provided to potential employers
from the government, the UK as a whole can see themselves out of pocket by
£2.2 million.
Digital Economy Minister, Ed Vaizey has expressed his concern for Surrey’s
financial spending and has said “although it will provide many people with vital
skills for their future careers there will be other areas that will suffer as a
result…”
Local schools and transport services will be affected and suffer from financial
loss.
Mr Vaizey has stated that less investment will be spent in school trips, therefore
leaving parents to pay for their children’s school expenses. Higher bus fares and
less bus services will also run from September 2015.
“I can see there being many implications for the public, spending more money on
education and transport, however in the long term many people will benefit from
this new scheme…”
Edward Timpson, Minister of Schools and Learning for Surrey CC has said “there
may be cuts in spending in other areas, however this new drive will benefit many
young people and their future…”.
However, there are young people who will be benefiting from this programme
providing specialist training in their desired careers.
Rebecca Nunn, a graduate from Surrey University said “I am happy with the
council’s decision to provide young people with apprenticeships, as a graduate it
is hard for me to find work straight after university, however with this new
programme I am looking forward to working in my desired career”.

2. Aimee James Web-News Story JAM13357345
Ministers of Surrey County Council have expressed the advantages of this new
scheme, Leader of Surrey County Council, David Hodge has stated “this is a great
way of boosting the economic growth and support Surrey’s businesses…”.
Neah Parkson, Manager of an Ann Summers branch has expressed her support
for the council’s new drive, “as a store, we have employed apprentices before
and benefited a lot from it, now the council is introducing a new programme I
feel it can only drive us forward as a business and help young people in the
process”.
In 2014, 562 apprentices were recruited and the total number of roles filled now
exceeds 1,500 since the scheme was launched.
The new drive creating apprenticeships for young people was confirmed at the
National Apprenticeship Week earlier this week.
Major employers have been involved this year, including businesses such as Ann
Summers and Berkeley Homes.
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financial-struggles-for-surrey-county-council/
Source Sheet
Student number AIMEE JAMES
Assignment NEWS STORY
Name of source
(e.g. person, job title, related organisation)
Mr David Hodge, Surrey County Council
Leader, Surrey County Council
Mr Ed Vaizey, Minister for Digital Economy,
Surrey County Council
Mr Edward Timpson, Minister for Schools and
Learning, Surrey County Council
Miss Rebecca Nunn, Student (Surrey
University)
Contact details
(e.g. telephone number, email address)
020 8541 8003
david.hodge@surreycc.gov.uk
020 7219 6350
vaizeye@parliament.uk
020 7219 8027
timpsone@parliament.uk
07722984904

3. Aimee James Web-News Story JAM13357345
Mrs Neah Parkson, Store Manager, Ann
Summers
07825617817
Website publisher (person and/or
organisation that posted the information)
Skills for Care
Surrey News
Precise URL and date accessed
http://www.skillsforcare.org.uk/Document-
library/Qualifications-and-
Apprenticeships/Apprenticeships/Governmen
t%20funding%20for%20Apprenticeships.pdf
(Accessed 13 March 2015)
http://news.surreycc.gov.uk/2015/03/09/surrey-
county-council-apprenticeship-drive-helps-1500/
(Accessed13 March 2015)