Henry Smith MP column, RH Uncovered Magazine, March 2016
One of any Member of Parliament’s key responsibilities is to help provide opportunities to local jobseekers and young people seeking employment or training.
I am looking forward to hosting the Crawley Apprenticeship & Jobs Fair, at Crawley Civic Hall on Friday, 4th March, from 10am until 3pm.
Entry is of course free to all interested in work or training opportunities. As with the two previous Fairs I hosted in 2013 and 2014 there will be a range of employment options available; however this year will also have a focus on apprenticeships.
While recent figures show that there have been more than 4,000 apprenticeship starts in Crawley since 2010, I am well aware that there is more to be done.
Organisations such as B&CE The People’s Pension, the RNIB, Autism Sussex and the British Army are among those who will be in attendance.
Also taking part will be the Crawley Town Community Foundation – I am delighted that they will be taking part in the Apprenticeship & Jobs Fair.
The following day, on 5th March, I am looking forward to being part of their National Citizen Service Spring Programme Day of Action, before Crawley Town’s game against Morecambe at the Checkatrade.com Stadium (kick-off 3pm).
I was pleased to attend the launch and graduation ceremony of the Autumn Programme. The Prime Minister recently announced additional funding of the scheme, to ensure it will cover 60 per cent of all 16 year olds.
The Apprenticeship & Jobs Fair is of course open to all, other locally-based employers who will be on hand to assist are Virgin Atlantic and Tufwell Glass. While the latest figures show that Crawley unemployment is down by 60 per cent over the last five years, I know this is of no consolation when looking for work.
I would urge anyone looking for a new job, or interested in taking up an apprenticeship, to join me at the 2016 Crawley Apprenticeship & Jobs Fair.
Henry Smith MP
House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA
01293 934554/020 7219 7043
henry.smith.mp@parliament.uk
www.henrysmith.info