The Prime Minister has confirmed that Nadhim Zahawi MP will be his new Adviser on Apprentices.
Mr Zahawi, the Conservative MP for Straford on Avon will also co-chair of Apprenticeship Delivery Board.
In his new role he will work closely with Number 10, the Department for Business Innovation and Skills and the Skills Funding Agency to ensure that the Government’s pledge for 3 million apprenticeship starts during the current Parliament is met.
Zahawi is an experienced businessman and entrepreneur, who founded the polling company YouGov.
“This is an exciting time for apprenticeships in the UK as the Government reforms the qualifications and introduces degree level and higher level apprenticeships, ahead of an expected increase in demand as the Apprenticeship Levy on large businesses is introduced in 2017,” he said.
“I’m excited to be part of the Government’s revolutionary work on apprenticeships, drawing on my previous experience as an entrepreneur to ensure that the new qualifications meet the needs of businesses and provide excellent life-long skills to those who take them.
“I’m determined for apprenticeships to be a real alternative to attending university, and to ensure that they’re a route to better paid, highly skilled jobs that really enhance productivity in our economy.”