The Betting and Gaming Council has disclosed support for the government’s levelling up plan that is tasked with delivering a significant transformation of the UK, which will take until 2030 to deliver.
This has seen the industry standards body pledge to spend £20m on training and development for staff across the UK each year, with further assurances detailed by its members.
Among these are a vow to create a total of 5,000 apprenticeships for young people looking to work in the industry between now and 2025, the vast majority of which will be outside of London.
This commitment from the industry follows a report by EY which showed that BGC members support 119,000 jobs, directly employing 61,000 people and a further 58,000 in the supply chain.
Nearly two thirds of those jobs are based outside of London, including almost 20,000 in the West Midlands, over 10,000 in Yorkshire and Humber, and a combined 9,000 in the North West and North East.
Michael Dugher, chief executive of the BGC, said the regulated industry was ready to go even further to help to support the UK economy.
“The government’s levelling up agenda is a fantastic opportunity to create more apprenticeships and tackle unemployment across the UK,” he noted.
“Across the UK, from Stoke to Leeds, BGC members are investing in high tech jobs within their companies more than ever before.
“They stand ready to support the economic recovery after COVID and provide the skills and opportunities that towns and cities need to thrive”.
The much discussed plans tasked with closing the gap between the country’s rich and poor areas has been unveiled by levelling up secretary Michael Gove.
The strategy, which it’s said will “drive real change in towns and cities across the UK,” includes a total of 12 national objectives, which include improvements to transport, broadband, education, training, and health life expectancy.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson says that this represents “the most comprehensive, ambitious plan of its kind that this country has ever seen,” which will “break the link between geography and destiny so that no matter where you live you have access to the same opportunities”.
