In other words, grading for all – a system that Mr Hancock said would give apprenticeships "the stretch and kudos they need to take their place as the equal of other routes to a successful career".
"Microsoft and Apple would not be the organisations they are today if it weren't for Bill Gates and Steve Jobs," they said – a sentiment that feeds into the coalition's drive to give apprenticeships equal standing when ranked alongside university degrees.
He backed some parts of the proposed policy, such as stopping exam boards competing against each other and giving apprenticeships "proper status".
The 'Mission Impossible' actor thinks it is "wonderful" that 18-year-old Isabella - his adopted child with ex-wife Nicole Kidman - has been given an apprenticeship at Holmes & Yang, the fashion label owned by his actress wife.
We were taught the only way to progress in life was to go to university, with no advice given on apprenticeships.
Given that apprenticeships are touted as one of the solutions to our youth unemployment problem and the number of young unemployed is nearing the one million mark, surely we should be getting the champagne out – as Vince Cable, the business secretary appeared to do.
The report, by the Institute for Public Policy Research IPPRR) and the Local Government Association LGAA), found 67% of intermediate-skilled apprentices were already employed by their company when they were given their apprenticeships.
The drivers are given a long apprenticeship before they are allowed to take human life out on the crowded highways.
I thought back to what Chris had said when he'd given me the apprenticeship and decided to pay closer attention to what the others were doing.
But that, alas, is Mourinho's way, no matter what team he prepares to fight, sometimes in the literal sense, in the stadium where he was given his coaching apprenticeship but was never considered to be the head coach.
