BURNLEY MP Gordon Birtwistle is to chair a new Parliamentary group to promote industry apprenticeships.

The new All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on apprenticeships has been brought together by EAL, the specialist awarding organisation for industry qualifications, and IMI Awards, the awarding organisation for the retail motor industry.

Mr Birtwistle said: “For the UK economy to succeed we need to increase the skills of our workforce and apprenticeships should play a central role in this. "As someone who started their career as an engineering apprentice, I know the value of the vocational training offered by high quality apprenticeships.

“But too often they are seen as a route only for those who have failed academically and are unable to go to university.

“I want to see these perceptions change and for apprenticeships to be widely recognised as a route into highly skilled occupations.”