Recent progress at Westminster

 In addition to the APPG, the NFRC also lobbies parliamentarians and government departments directly.  The NFRC are particularly keen to engage with Opposition spokesmen to discuss future policy and manifesto commitments. Details of recent activity are as follows:            

Grant Shapps MP, Shadow Housing Minister                  

Mr Shapps, the Conservative spokesman on housing, visited the new Sika Training Academy in April 2008, at the request of the NFRC.  He showed great support for the Training Academy, based in his constituency of Welwyn Hatfield.

John Hayes MP, Shadow Minister for Lifelong Learning, Further and Higher Education

Ray Horwood met Mr Hayes, then Conservative spokesman on vocational education, in Dec 2007, to discuss apprenticeships and training in the industry.  Mr Hayes was very receptive to the NFRC approach to apprenticeships provision, agreeing that a demand-led model, with businesses at its centre, was preferable to current arrangements.  This was reflected in the Conservatives’ policy paper, Building Skills, Transforming Lives, published in 2008.  The NFRC was invited to take part  in the Conservatives’ Skills Summit in Feb 2009.

Mr Hayes also opened the Sika Training Academy in Welwyn Garden City in April 2008. 

He attended the APPG lunch and remains committed to continuing a fruitful dialogue with the NFRC

· Mr Hayes also opened the Sika Training Academy in Welwyn Garden City in April 2008. 

· He attended the APPG lunch and remains committed to continuing a fruitful     dialogue with the NFRC

Andrew Stunell OBE MP        

Ray Horwood met with Mr Stunell, a champion of energy efficiency in housing, in July 2008.  Improvements to the existing housing stock were the focus of discussions, including the prospects for reducing VAT on RMI work.  Mr Stunell is a former Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and former spokesman on energy issues.

· Mr Stunell contributed to discussions at the July 2008 meeting of the APPG.

 Liberal Democrat Skills team 

Ray Horwood had a useful meeting in Nov 2008 with Lord Cotter, in his capacity as Liberal Democrat spokesman on apprenticeships and skills.   Lord Cotter has also tabled several parliamentary questions on payment practices.

· A meeting is scheduled with Baroness Sharp of Guildford, the Liberal Democrat spokesperson on Further Education, for March.

In March, the NFRC held a successful meeting on apprenticeships with Baroness Sharp of Guildford, the Liberal Democrats’ spokesperson for higher and further education in the House of Lords.  Lady Sharp agreed to lay several amendments to the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill. 

The Bill provides for a statutory scheme for apprenticeships and creates a right to an apprenticeship for suitably qualified 16-18 year olds.  It also dissolves the Learning and Skills Council, passing its funding responsibilities onto the new Young Person’s Learning Agency (YPLA) and local educational authorities.  For 19 year olds and over, funding will be provided through a new Skills Funding Agency, which will also be responsible for the provision of apprenticeship places for all suitably qualified under-19s.

The NFRC proposed several amendments based on goals endorsed by the Cross-Industry Construction Apprenticeship Task Force:

1. parity for specialist apprenticeships (no discrimination on age or trade);
2. recognised apprenticeships (a definitive list should be kept by sector skills councils);
3. apprenticeship uptake and recruitment targets (trade associations and SSCs should be consulted by the National Apprenticeships Service);
4. role of managing agencies (one per sector, preferably the sector skills council).