Trade should be taught on the national curriculum, Liam Fox MP says

Educating young people about trade should be taught on the national curriculum, said Liam Fox MP, the International Trade Secretary, as he announced the world’s first international trade training scheme.

The two year scheme is open to people of all ages, those who have no previous government experience, or a degree, and has a starting salary of £30,561.

“I think certainly education about trade should be in the curriculum because we are a trading nation,” Mr Fox told The Telegraph.

“I think as we develop an independent trade policy getting any youngsters to understand about the value of trade, as well as the opportunities that it might bring in terms of careers would be a good thing.”

Candidates will spend time working with a sector team in the UK, for example in oil and gas, before taking up a placement abroad in locations such as New York, Beijing or Dubai.

“I didn't want a scheme that was only graduate based because there may be lots of youngsters who could perfectly adequately take up a career working in a department in exporting,” Mr Fox said.

“My feeling is that because we haven't done trade for over forty years, it may not be something that, in schools, youngsters are orientated towards.

“I wanted to make it a wider opportunity, more meritocratic. Britain didn’t build its trading empire on A levels.”

But applicants must have “passion and aptitude” for trade, Mr Fox added, as the programme hopes to create a “talent pool of trade policy and promotion experts” as Britain leaves the EU.

“I want to create a cadre of young people who don't see the world ending at the southern border of Europe, but that there is a great big world in which Britain can truly blossom,” he said.

Applications close August 4.