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Top public sector figures – including Ministers, MPs, council CEOs and a Regional Development Agency Chairman - are going ‘back to the floor’ this week to get hands-on experience of what it’s like to be an apprentice.

Leading the way are Ministers from the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills, Kevin Brennan and Lord Young.  Taking his Apprenticeship on Tuesday, Further Education Minister Mr. Brennan visited Music4Good, a social enterprise based in Brixton that provides training opportunities for young people who want to get into music.  As part of the day, he joined 17 apprentices taking part in a masterclass about the music industry.

Apprenticeships Minister Kevin Brennan said:

“National Apprenticeship Week has been a great opportunity to see young people in their place of work and the dedication they put in to their training to give their career the best possible start.

“Initiatives such as Music4good, which help apprentices throughout their training and into a job at the end, are an impressive example of the diverse and wide ranging Apprenticeships now available.

“Apprenticeships play an important role in strengthening an individual’s skills and giving businesses the edge to succeed in the upturn. I am sure the expanding range of subjects an Apprenticeship can be taken in will encourage more people to consider becoming an apprentice.”

On Wednesday, Employment Minister Lord Young is going back to the floor at London Underground maintenance firm, Tube Lines.  A former apprentice himself, he will spend part of his day learning about the technical side of Apprenticeships at the company through demonstrations on a simulated railway.

Lord Young said:

"Now more than ever, it's essential that businesses continue to employ and train apprentices. Apprenticeships are key to building British skills and it's vital that we continue to invest in people and their skills, especially in industries key to our future economic success.

"Employers like Tube Lines are doing exactly that. They're showing just how much value an apprentice can add to your business and are an example from which other businesses should follow."

Kevin Brennan and Lord Young will be joined by over 45 MPs who are shadowing apprentices working in their constituencies; from those working in hospitality, childcare and horticulture to others in engineering market research and hairdressing.  In addition, other figures from across the public sector are getting a taste of what being an apprentice involves.

South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) Chairman, Rob Douglas, became an apprentice for the day on Monday.  He learned about boatbuilding during lessons at Southampton City College’s Maritime Technology Centre followed by a trip to Solent Refit, where he changed into overalls and helped to rebuild two main engines for a large vessel.

The CEO of City of Lincoln Council, Andrew Taylor, will also be taking part.  He will be trying his hand at three different Apprenticeship programmes in craft, horticulture and business administration.

These back to the floor experiences are all part of Apprenticeship Week which is taking place from the 1st to the 5th February.  Organised by the National Apprenticeship Service, the Week aims to celebrate apprentices and raise awareness of the value they bring to UK businesses.

Simon Waugh, Chief Executive of the National Apprenticeship Service, said:

“We are delighted that so many MPs are taking part in Apprenticeship Week through activities like ‘back to the floor’.  We hope that everyone will gain a lot from the experience and learn more about what being an apprentice involves.  MPs are getting a taste of Apprenticeships across a number of sectors and industries, showing the breadth of job roles on offer”.

For more information about Apprenticeships, visit www.apprenticeships.gov.uk