It was announced today at Prime Minister’s Questions that I will be the new Apprenticeship Adviser for David Cameron, and co-chair of the Apprenticeship Delivery Board. In this new role I will be working closely with Number 10, the Department for Business Innovation and Skills and the Skills Funding Agency to ensure that the Government’s pledge for 3 million apprenticeship starts in this Parliament is met. This is an exciting time for apprenticeships in the UK as the Government reforms the qualifications and introduces degree level and higher level apprenticeships, ahead of an expected increase in demand as the Apprenticeship Levy on large businesses is introduced in 2017. It’s a great honour to have been asked by the Prime Minister to be his new Apprenticeships Adviser. I have already started my work, holding regular meetings with BIS, Number 10 and the SFA I’m excited to be part of the Government’s revolutionary work on apprenticeships, drawing on my previous experience as an entrepreneur to ensure that the new qualifications meet the needs of businesses and provide excellent life-long skills to those who take them. I’m determined for apprenticeships to be a real alternative to attending University, and to ensure that they’re a route to better paid, highly skilled jobs that really enhance productivity in our economy.