Small Business Saturday and support for SME apprenticeships

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That this House celebrates Small Business Saturday and recognises the essential contribution that small and medium-sized enterprises make to local economies, employment and skills; notes the concerns raised by the Apprenticeships Work campaign regarding the decline in SME participation in apprenticeships and the impact on opportunities for young people; acknowledges the role of SMEs in providing vital entry-level pathways and hands-on training; and calls on the Government to ensure that small businesses are supported to recruit apprentices, including through accessible brokerage services, appropriate financial incentives, secure funding within the Growth and Skills Levy, clear national targets for SME apprenticeship growth, and strengthened avenues for SMEs to contribute to the design and development of apprenticeship standards.