WIRRAL Council leader Phil Davies has supported newly-elected regional mayor Steve Rotheram's call for apprentices to be paid a fair wage.

The mayor and Cllr Davies joined leaders of all boroughs within Liverpool City Region alongside representatives from Unison, Unite, GMB and the TUC signed an Apprenticeship Charter during the annual Festival of Learning held at Liverpool Museum.

Cllr Davies said: "Quality apprenticeships – helping particularly young people get the skills businesses need – are vital to the local economy.

"We must find a way to make them attractive options for young people and for businesses.

"This Apprenticeship Charter is a great idea and I was delighted to be able to commit Wirral Council to its principles and I will be encouraging every business in Wirral and throughout the region to do the same".

The Charter has been drawn up by Unionlearn, the education arm of the TUC and sets out a number of principles which underpin a vision of high quality apprenticeships as a skills development programme for the current and future workforce.

The charter aims to ensure that:

  • Apprentices are in a job with a productive purpose and are paid a fair rate
  • Apprentices receive quality training and clear individual development
  • The trade union are involved at every level of the apprenticeship programme
  • Ensure Apprentices have regular access to, and support from, trade unions
  • Apprenticeships are accessible to, and achievable by all
  • Apprentices are part of, and contribute to, a Healthy and Safe environment
  • Apprentices are a commitment from the employer to complement the workforce, not supplement it.