It’s no secret that local businesses are facing skills shortages, while young people have to look for opportunities in Southampton or London.

National Apprenticeships Week is an opportunity to celebrate apprentices and providers in Bournemouth, as well as focusing on how we can improve access to high-quality apprenticeships locally.

I met with Sarah Jones MP this week to discuss how Bournemouth can help train the next generation of workers — especially in green industries.

At the moment, too many young people feel they have to move to Southampton, or even London, in order to have the chance at building a career of their own. I don’t want that to keep happening.

We already have fantastic further education providers, like Bournemouth and Poole College, and businesses such as Tops Nurseries—one of the UK’s top apprenticeship providers—working hard to train future talent right here.

However, we need to see government reforms that cut red tape for employers, introduce more flexible apprenticeships, and remove unnecessary barriers (like the English and Maths requirement for adult apprentices).

The Minister confirmed that these changes are on the way, and I’m optimistic they’ll benefit hundreds of apprentices across Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole. By making it simpler for businesses to offer apprenticeships—particularly in green energy, healthcare, and digital industries—we can help more young people learn essential skills and stay local.

As I told the Minister, it’s about creating high-quality opportunities so our community thrives and grows without forcing our talent to relocate.

If you’re a local employer or training provider, I encourage you to look at how the new reforms can make it easier to take on apprentices.

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