Hammersmith MP Andy Slaughter has helped launch a traineeship scheme to broaden access to Parliament as part of National Apprentice Week.
The MP and shadow justice minister is backing the programme which enrols unemployed school-leavers on an intensive 12 week training initiative, combining short work experience placements in MPs’ offices, with accredited learning at Westminster Kingsway College and specialist master classes designed to train up a potential future prime minister.
The traineeships are part of The Parliamentary Academy, the first ever apprentice school in Parliament which aims to broaden access to politics by giving young people a paid apprenticeship with an MP and a decent qualification.
Mr Slaughter and his fellow MPs who have taken on the challenge will support young people to develop the skills and experience necessary to pursue work in politics. At the end of their programme, trainees will have the opportunity to apply for parliamentary apprenticeships and other roles in Parliament and politics.
Chuka Umanna, shadow business secretary, has been helping Mr Slaughter promote National Apprenticeships Week which started yesterday (March 3). He said: “Andy is a tremendous advocate for young people and ensuring they can get on the career ladder and develop the skills they need.”
Mr Slaughter will also have a student from William Morris Sixth Form, in Hammersmith, shadowing him this Thursday as part of International Women’s Day. She will be accompanying him to a disability awareness event, meet women in politics who run an initiative to get more women in politics and attend a parliamentary debate on women in Afghanistan.
