Last week the government set out a bold new ambition for skills in our country. Instead of the outdated target that 50% of young people should go to university, this government has raised its sights higher – for two-thirds of young people to go on to university, further education, or take up a gold standard apprenticeship.
The old target never reflected our reality in West Cumbria. Here, many more young people proudly choose apprenticeships and further education. Our local economy has long depended on that tradition. Sellafield, local engineering and construction firms and our NHS all rely on young people gaining high-quality technical education.
By replacing the old target, the government is saying clearly that technical qualifications and apprenticeships deserve the same respect as university degrees. This is about celebrating and investing in the colleges and training providers we have here in West Cumbria. These institutions are vital, and with new backing they can equip more local young people with the skills that match job opportunities for years to come.
But ambition alone is not enough if people can’t afford to study. University should be accessible to all, but for too many young people and families in West Cumbria the cost of rent, food and travel has put higher education out of reach. Students here have faced an impossible choice between earning or learning, working long hours in term time and cutting back on study.
That’s why I welcome the government’s second announcement last week: the return of targeted maintenance grants. For the first time in over a decade, students from low-income households will again get the financial support of a grant. These grants will be focused on courses that support our national priorities. That means backing people who are preparing for the jobs our country most needs: in healthcare, where the NHS relies on a new generation of nurses and doctors; in clean energy, where Cumbria has the potential to lead the way in offshore wind, new nuclear and hydrogen; and in advanced engineering and manufacturing, where our young people are already making a difference through world-class apprenticeships.
This matters hugely for our area. It means a young person in Whitehaven or Workington, Egremont, Cleator Moor, Flimby or any of the surrounding villages who wants to be the first in their family to go on to higher study, no longer has to rule it out because of money worries.
As your MP, my priority is making sure every young person in West Cumbria has real choices. This government is committed to making working people better off, driving up skills, and ensuring our young people can get good, secure jobs. For our community, it is a chance to build on our proud traditions and open the door to a brighter future.
Josh MacAlister MP 