ONE of the greatest challenges facing the Cornish economy is how we ensure that our young people can access learning opportunities to provide them with the technical skills for a working career.

For too long there has been a disparity in government and wider society between those that go to university and those that go to Further Education (FE) colleges.

We know that what we desperately lack in Cornwall is builders, carpenters, welders, junior technicians and plumbers, amongst many other such skills. And yet we are blessed with two brilliant FE colleges working incredibly hard in an extremely tough fiscal climate. We should be proud of both of them. And this week the government announced a package of measures to break down barriers to technical education, training, and apprenticeships.

A new bursary, worth up to £4,500 per year per household, will remove a barrier that can otherwise discourage young people from taking up an apprenticeship, helping them build the skills and independence that lead to long-term, well-paid work. The Government is also creating over 22,000 additional places across colleges and post 16 providers in other areas with a further £287 million investment. Boosting the number of college places, alongside much-needed additional capacity in sixth form colleges and 16 to 19 academies, is a key part of the government’s push to end the snobbery around hands-on learning. We want technical education to be valued every bit as highly as the academic route, so every young person can choose the pathway that is right for them.

This new financial support and expansion of college places will help more young people develop the skills local employers need and connect to the technical pathways being created locally. Building on Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s announcement of wider reforms to give 14-year-olds greater access to technical learning and meaningful work experience, these changes will help more young people aged 16 to 19 continue developing practical skills and real-world experience as they move into the next stage of education and training.

This comes alongside free apprenticeship training for all eligible under-25s from August, up to £8,000 in support for SMEs hiring young apprentices, and NIC relief for apprentices under 25 will help deliver 50,000 new youth apprenticeships.

Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said: “Every young person deserves the chance to build a future they can be proud of, and our welfare system should be a springboard to opportunity, not a barrier to it. By providing bursaries to those who need them most and fully funding apprenticeship training, we are making sure cost is not the reason someone misses out. Coupled with up to £8,000 in financial support for employers, this is a serious investment in the next generation and in the future of our economy."

Along with Cornish MP colleagues I have been working to raise the profile of our outstanding colleges and will be keen on returning to Westminster next month to press the case for more funding for both young people and adult skills training.