LAST year employment levels across North East England touched record highs and we should be extremely proud that more people than ever are in work in the region, writes Paul Carbert, NECC Policy Advisor.

This is down to the continued success of our businesses in the face of significant pressures and a region that continues to lead the way in the recruitment of apprentices, while our universities are widely recognised as producers of world-class talent.

Despite all of this, the number of people unemployed in the region is far too high, with the region having the largest unemployment rate in the country. At a time when too many businesses tell us they cannot find the right skills in the labour market, this is unacceptable.

We must support those who are removed from the labour market to access the right kind of training to enable them to find work and insist that the education system equips young people with the skills and knowledge to make informed decisions about their future careers.

Businesses must also step up to the plate by engaging with the education system to provide meaningful advice and experience to the future workforce.

In the next few weeks, Government are inviting comments on a proposal to introduce a target for public sector bodies to recruit apprentices. The target will mean a minimum of 2.3 per cent of workers starting each year will need to be apprentices, and will apply to public sector employers with 250 or more employees in England.

More details of the consultation, including a list of the public sector bodies that will be in scope for the target, can be found on the gov.co.uk website.

Do you think all public-sector organisations with 250 or more employees should be included for the target or should some organisations be exempt? And then there’s the question on what information should public bodies be required to publish regarding the progress they have made.

Although the proposed list of large public sector employers includes some schools and academy trusts, it does not include further education colleges because the Office for National Statistics reclassified general further education colleges and sixth form colleges from general government to the non-profit institutions serving households sector in May 2012.

The consultation closes on March 4. We would welcome feedback from our members on this consultation. So, if you have something to say or if you’re not sure whether you might be affected and would like to discuss in more detail, please get in touch with me at the Chamber.