Simon Jupp MP joins PM for major skills speech in East Devon

East Devon’s MP Simon Jupp joined the Prime Minister this morning at Exeter College ahead of a major speech to launch a new plan to transform the training and skills system to help boost the economy.

The Prime Minister and Simon Jupp MP were given a tour of Exeter College’s specialist Devon and Exeter Construction Training Centre’s facilities and met Principal John Laramy and students. The PM took part in tutorials in bricklaying, carpentry and shaving wood and promised a radical shake-up of adult and vocational education to end the “bogus distinction” between academic and practical learning.

Find more details about today’s policy announcement from the Government here.

Simon Jupp, Member of Parliament for East Devon, said; “It was brilliant to welcome the Prime Minister to Exeter College’s Construction Training Centre in Sowton to talk about his plan for new and skilled jobs. It’s time to end the bogus distinction between academic and practical learning and every student we met was enthusiastic about the future. Exeter College is at the forefront of plans to boost our economic recovery by giving people the skills they need for new opportunities ahead.”

The PM praised Exeter College and outlined further funding for its facilities, commenting in a speech at the site that: “It’s time for change. It’s time for radical change. And let’s begin by admitting part of the problem is that not every FE college [and] not every training college is as superb as Exeter College. We need to invest in skills and we need to invest in FE. That’s why we’re putting in £1.5 billion into upgrading and improving colleges across the country, fixing the leaky ceilings, bringing forward £200 million this year. The facilities here are awesome, I’ve tried them myself this morning.