Express & Star Ladder campaign praised in Parliament

Robert Halfon, chairman of the Education Select Committee, hailed the Ladders for the Black Country, Staffordshire and Shropshire, which together generated more than 1,000 jobs, during an event to launch a new national Ladder initiative.

Mr Halfon, MP for Harlow, said the campaign, which saw the Express & Star work with education partners to encourage employers to take on more apprentices, was a model for others to follow.

At a meeting to launch Ladder for England yesterday, the Conservative MP said: “The work you have done to help people from disadvantaged backgrounds is everything we should be doing in this country.

“Apprenticeships are the most incredible ladder of opportunity. Rung by rung they transform lives.”

“It is great to have an organisation like the Ladder. It’s so important that you have grown this in the regions. I believe you can do a lot.

“Let’s make this a real success. You are starting a movement which can transform thousands of lives especially from disadvantaged backgrounds.”

Mr Halfon is to be a co-patron of the national Ladder Foundation which was officially launched in the House of Commons yesterday and aims to extend the campaign across the country.

The event was attended by representatives of the region’s Ladder partners including Express & Star publisher the Midland News Association (MNA), Black Country Chamber of Commerce, the regional LEP and training provider Performance Through People.

Kevin Davis, CEO of the Walsall-based charity The Vine Trust which was a partner in the Express & Star campaign, is to head the new foundation.

The Ladder for the Black Country was launched in the Express & Star in 2014 and spread to Staffordshire and Shropshire.

Chris Leggett, MNA marketing and communications director, said: “The MNA has been proud to be part of the first part of the Ladder story and look forward to helping Ladder for England to lift the lives of more young people.”