Vikki Slade MP celebrates apprenticeships week with visit to Asda Canford Heath

Vikki Slade, Liberal Democrat MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole, marked National Apprenticeship Week with a visit to Asda in Canford Heath, where she met Duty Manager Cameron to hear about his journey through the apprenticeship route.

Cameron has progressed steadily within the company. Through his apprenticeship, he has gained valuable on-the-job experience and is now a Duty Manager studying a Level 4 qualification.

Vikki praised Cameron’s dedication and the opportunities apprenticeships can provide.

“It was fantastic to meet Cameron and hear first-hand how apprenticeships have supported his career progression,” said Vikki Slade MP. “His journey shows how apprenticeships can open doors, build skills and create real opportunities.”

Vikki emphasised that all young people should be able to choose from the widest range of further and higher education - including college, apprenticeships or university - and welcomed the multi-stage apprenticeship programme that provided options for older learners too.

A spokesperson for Asda said: "We were delighted to welcome Vikki Slade MP to Asda Canford Heath as part of our National Apprenticeship Week activity. Visits like these are an incredibly valuable opportunity to highlight and celebrate our local apprentices, whilst also allowing us to discuss how we can work together to offer even more of these opportunities to our colleagues."

Vikki added “Apprenticeships allow people to earn while they learn, gain practical skills and avoid significant student debt. For many young people, that combination makes sense.”

However, during the recent debate about the budget, she highlighted that with the frozen tax thresholds, apprentices will be dragged into paying income tax even during their first year of work.

She told Parliament: “Because they are paid for their training hours as well as their working hours, they will be dragged into paying income tax. These very young earners, who are at the very beginning of their time and should be being supported, will be paying tax because of the increase—the stealth tax—that we see.”

Vikki said she will continue campaigning to ensure apprentices are properly supported and that the system works fairly for young people and employers alike.

“Apprenticeships should be encouraged and strengthened, not undermined,” she added.