Gillian Keegan MP has been appointed as an MP Apprenticeship Ambassador by Minister of State Anne Milton.
The Member of Parliament for Chichester is the only degree level apprentice in the House of Commons. Having left school at 16 Gillian began a degree level apprenticeship in a car factory near Liverpool that gave her business experience from the factory floor to the boardroom. The scheme propelled her 30 year business career and so as an MP she is championing more high-quality apprenticeships to give others that same start in life.
The role requires MPs to promote and support apprenticeship schemes and to raise awareness in both the Houses of Parliament as well as businesses up and down the country. Gillian will also support the Apprenticeship Ambassador Network (AAN), which is comprised of employers and advocates who support these schemes. Currently, there are 564 members, with a mix of public and private sectors signed up. She will also champion the Young AAN (YAAN). which includes all former and existing apprentices.
Gillian will be providing leadership support for the nine YAAN Chairs across England and support their activities. Her work as an Ambassador also ties in with her existing role as the Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Apprenticeships.
The MP for Chichester has already been a loud and impactful voice in this field, calling for apprenticeships to be better quality and making sure school leavers are given careers advice that informs them of all their options.
Gillian said: ‘I am very excited to have been offered this role as it will help me better communicate how much young people can gain from apprenticeships. There’s a lot on offer by earning whilst learning, and apprentices can walk away with real business experience and no student debt. I am grateful to have been given this platform to further spread the word.’
Simon Lloyd-Williams, Project Manager Degree Apprenticeship at University of Portsmouth said: Gillian Keegan, having started as an apprentice herself, is passionate about promoting apprenticeships as a pathway to a successful career
