Wayne Stannett, co-founder and operations director of Norwich-based engineering training and apprenticeship provider Reagit, has welcomed Andy Burnham’s plans to put practical skills on par with academia and “value the hard hat as much as the graduation cap”.

A record one million young adults are not in education, employment or training (NEET) (Image: Reagit)

The prime minister and education secretary Lucy Powell have both accused successive governments of prioritising academic subjects in schools, which they claim has directly led to a record one million young adults becoming disenfranchised and not in education, employment or training – known as NEETs.

Mr Stannett, who set up Reagit with his wife Louisa in 2019, called the proposals a “significant move forward” and “something which has been looked for by employers for decades”.

Wayne Stannett, co-founder and operations director of Reagit (Image: Reagit)

“This is a breath of fresh air if it can be funded properly and correctly,” he said.

“A lot of schools are judged on their transference from school to sixth form to university - but university doesn't fit everybody.

“When you go to a lot of school events, they won't even talk about apprenticeships as a valid option.

“By bringing vocational skills back into the school delivery model, in my opinion it's going to bring more emphasis back on the fact that apprenticeships and vocational routes post-16 are valid and real roles.”

Reagit moved into its premises on Hardy Road in Norwich, near Carrow Road stadium, three years ago, offering engineering courses, scholarships and........

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