The best breakfast club in Wales has won more plaudits and is proudly flying the flag for Monmouthshire. I returned to Trellech Primary School on Friday morning to present breakfast club leader Tony Webb and cook Melanie Light with a certificate from the Purpose Coalition Awards. These awards celebrate the fantastic work underway in our communities to break down the barriers to opportunity and boost social mobility across the UK. Afterwards I shared my ‘A Day in the Life’ talk – a non-political behind the scenes look at the role of an MP – with dosbarth years 5 and 6. There were some super questions and pupils relished the chance to take part in a mock House of Commons debate to discuss the motion of banning homework! A big thank you to acting headteacher Kate Peacock, staff and of course the children for such a warm welcome.
To mark National Apprenticeship Week, I hosted a cross-industry reception for Welsh apprentices at Gwydyr House in London. Among those in attendance were General Dynamics graduates, Ebbw Vale cyber apprentices from Thales UK, and young people undertaking apprenticeships with Aston Martin, Airbus, AB Ports and KLA. It was great to hear about their future ambitions and the skills they are learning at the start of their careers. Apprenticeships play a vital role in growing the economy and have been a huge success over the last decade. In 2010, had you said you could become a doctor, a lawyer, a teacher or an accountant though an apprenticeship, no one would have believed you. Traditionally in certain trades, all sorts of different schemes are now available and they offer young people a wide range of exciting options as an alternative to university.
Lloyds Banking Group kindly hosted a brilliant visit to the Abergavenny branch on Cross Street where we discussed video banking, protection from fraud and scams, and practical digital skills for those needing support to bank online. I was particularly impressed by the support Lloyds Bank gives to vulnerable people. The specialist ‘Moments of Truth’ telephone team helps customers who have experienced domestic or financial abuse, are setting up a Power of Attorney for a loved one or are dealing with bereavement. I have some personal experience of this and must say a vulnerable family member of mine has been very well looked after by the bank. It was nice to be able to pass on my appreciation to members of the team in person.
*Published in the Monmouthshire Beacon and Abergavenny Chronicle on 14 February 2024*