Deputy Prime Minister visits Eastbourne (Eastbourne and Willingdon Liberal Democrats)

Eastbourne and Willingdon Liberal Democrats <office@eastbournelibdems.org.uk>

Deputy Prime Minister visits Eastbourne

November 1, 2011 11:34 AM
Originally published by Stephen Lloyd MP

The Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg MP visited Eastbourne last week to see for himself some of the excellent work that is going on there to promote apprenticeships. Stephen Lloyd's recent initiative to find 100 apprenticeships in 100 days was well and truly smashed with a sensational 181 apprenticeships offered by local employers.

The Deputy Prime Minister went to the Langham Hotel in Eastbourne where he met a number of apprentices working at the hotel in a range of roles. Nick also met Melanie Hunt, Principal and Chief Executive of Sussex Downs College and Andrew Coy, manager of the Langham Hotel.

Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg said: "Apprenticeships are key to ensuring young people have the skills and experience to get jobs and help the local economy grow. Stephen Lloyd is doing excellent work, together with local businesses and the wider community, in ensuring Eastbourne's young people can get apprenticeships and have the tools to build prosperous careers."

Stephen Lloyd MP said: "It is tremendous that the Government have been so impressed with our apprenticeship initiative and to have the Deputy Prime Minister visit Eastbourne really was the icing on the cake. I was hugely impressed with the programme run by the Langham Hotel, in partnership with Sussex Downs College.

Melanie Hunt, Chief Executive and Principal of Sussex Downs College said: "The Apprenticeship scheme works. An incredible 91% of our hospitality apprentices achieve their qualifications and move into a job after they've completed their training. It was great that the Deputy Prime Minister could visit Eastbourne to see the programme working first-hand. I was so pleased that he agreed to present one of our apprentices, Faye Chillingworth, with her certificate as well."