Isle of Wight MP Richard Quigley has teamed up with HTP Apprenticeship College and is offering the chance for someone to join his team as a Constituency Apprentice.
The MP for Isle of Wight West has long recognised the importance of apprenticeships and has been working with Island employers over the past 12 months to do what he can to promote them as a real alternative to university for school leavers.
This new apprenticeship opportunity reflects Richard’s ongoing commitment to expanding careers, education and employment pathways for young people on the Island in a bid to make it an even better place to live, work, and learn.
As the first MP in the country to offer T Level placements within an MP’s office, Richard is excited to now be offering an apprenticeship in his constituency office. The MP is determined to ensure that young people on the island have the opportunity to access high quality skills training, real world work experience, and a clear pathway into work or further study.
The apprenticeship will be delivered in partnership with Newport based training provider HTP Apprenticeship College. HTP will support the apprentice on their 16-month Level 3 Business Administrator apprenticeship, ensuring the successful applicant gains necessary skills and knowledge to support business operations, management, and project delivery – skills needed by Island employers.
Richard Quigley has said:
“Members of Parliament rarely take on apprentices.
“But there’s no reason MPs can’t use their offices to give someone the chance to start their career. I’m really excited about recruiting a new member of the team for my Newport office and to offer a fantastic opportunity to the right candidate.”
Article continues below this advertisement “I have been clear about the vital role that careers education, apprenticeships, and vocational routes play, particularly for those who do not wish to take the university route.
“Therefore, it’s important that I lead by example and show just how easy it can be for employers to offer meaningful, high-quality opportunities within their own organisations.”
Simon Attrill, Head of Business Development at HTP, has said:
“The successful applicant will gain a nationally recognised qualification with the majority of their learning taking place in the workplace,” explains
“We work with businesses across all sizes and sectors, devising bespoke training and supporting employers to find the right candidates. It’s great to be working with Richard Quigley’s office to create a new role in a very exciting workplace.”
HTP Apprenticeship College was honoured with the King’s Award for Enterprise in 2025, recognising a joint partnership with Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust for the Careers and Young People Programme. The programme puts a real focus on values-based recruitment and encourages applications from people that want to learn new skills, something Richard is keen to champion.
Richard adds:
“We’re looking for the right person, with the right values,” says
“An apprentice in my office will be part of a small team, responding to hundreds of emails and enquiries each week. They’ll also help organise and attend meetings in the constituency and occasionally in Westminster. They will need good communication skills, and the ability to put people at ease and pick up the phone. You need to care, because this is all about people’s lives and outcomes. You’ll need a willingness to learn, but also a willingness to put yourself slightly out of your comfort zone.
“This is a rare opportunity on the Island but also nationally. MPs don’t normally take on apprentices but I’m very keen to demonstrate the value of an apprenticeship programme, supported by HTP, to give someone a real chance. I talk a lot about the future of the Island, our workforce and how we need to invest in our young people and offer alternative career pathways to university. I’m really looking forward to meeting the next member of my team.”
For more information about the role and how to apply visit www.htp.ac.uk.
Maybe that team member can sort the ferries.
Lol
How I reduce my ferry fares I just travel less so in
the end the ferry fares work out much cheaper
BEAT THEM AT THEIR OWN GAME
5 trips instead of 10 trips.
So in the end it’s the ferry companies losing revenue.
There should be an island residents rate and a mainland
travellers rate!
A three year apprenticeship for a dead end job as a Liebore politico?
What is the point?
With the greatest respect to Wiggly Quigley, so-called Apprenticeships these days are nothing like the ‘old fashioned’ Apprenticeships of years gone by. They taught you a proper and useful trade which gave you REAL employment. Todays ‘Apprenticeships’ are an excuse for cheap labour and the majority of them do not give you a proper, formal, qualification.
No doubt, our illustrious Member for West Wight would say that he is against Zero Hours employment contracts, but is quite happy to exploit some youngster as a ‘Gopher’ with his BUSY office!
When Quigley’s government as finished, there won’t be any jobs to go to.
That is the world plan.
Social credit system is on it’s way!