Thursday 08 July 2010
A newly elected MP has given apprentices everywhere a boost this week after
announcing he is taking one on as his official researcher.
Instead of hiring the typical Oxford University graduate from a wealthy
background, Robert Halfon, the MP for Harlow, is offering the job to an
apprentice.
The successful candidate from the local area will be paid £100 a week and
will work towards a Level 3 NVQ in business administration. His role with
the MP will be to help him with research, day-to-day tasks and with writing
speeches and taking notes.
Halfon said he wanted to give the opportunity to a regular person, adding
that he could have, "picked from hundreds of Oxbridge types willing to work
for nothing," but this wouldn’t have reflected his support for vocational
learning.
He said, "I've got to practice what I preach. Rather than going on about
it, I decided the best way to show my commitment to apprentices was to hire
one myself."
He claims that apprenticeships can transform lives and give young people
who want to learn at work a path to gaining qualifications that will
improve their chances of getting a job in the future.
The MP says that he is simply looking for someone with basic skills and the
right attitude, "And you don't need an Oxbridge degree to offer that," he
added.
Because all our courses lead to nationally recognised qualifications, you
too can get qualified with learndirect.
