I was delighted to be asked to speak at the launch of Train Tameside 500 at Tameside College last month. This partnership between the college and Tameside Council is a brilliant initiative aimed at supporting 500 local residents into training and employment across key growth sectors including construction, health and social care, and digital technologies. This programme is a testament to what can be achieved when local ambition meets national policy, and when institutions work together to deliver real opportunities for our communities.
We heard from Tameside Council Chief Executive Harry Catherall and Tameside Leader Councillor Eleanor Wills about how apprenticeships had helped them get a foot up and why Train Tameside 500 exemplifies the kind of collaborative, place-based approach that we know delivers results. By bringing together employers, educators, and the council, it creates a joined-up system of support that reflects the priorities of our Labour Government and the needs of our borough. It’s rooted in the strengths of our local institutions and designed to respond to the challenges facing residents who want to upskill, retrain, or take their first steps into a new career.
This initiative aligns closely with the ambitions set out in the Government’s recent White Paper on Skills and Growth, which outlines a new framework for tackling the UK’s persistent skills gaps. The White Paper makes clear that reforming how apprenticeships and training are delivered is central to our economic strategy. It sets out a vision for a more flexible, responsive system and one that works for learners, employers, and communities alike.
Under Labour’s new Growth and Skills Levy, we are replacing the outdated apprenticeship levy with a more dynamic model that better meets the needs of today’s economy. We’re introducing Foundation Apprenticeships, which will allow young people to earn a wage while training in priority sectors. We’re also making apprenticeships more accessible by shortening minimum durations and improving support for English and maths to remove barriers that have held too many people back.
As someone who has long championed apprenticeships both in Parliament and here in Tameside, I’ve seen first-hand the transformative impact they can have. They change lives, strengthen families, and power local economies. That’s why I’m proud to see Train Tameside 500 taking shape: a locally driven programme, backed by national policy, and focused on delivering real outcomes for local people.
I also had the privilege of presenting awards to five of the trailblazing businesses already partnered with Train Tameside 500. A big thank you to the college, the council and those businesses for bringing this initiative to life. It’s a powerful example of what we can achieve when we work together, and I look forward to seeing the difference it will make in the months and years ahead.