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Former Commons Speaker Lord Martin spoke of his role in bringing apprenticeships to Parliament in his maiden speech in the Lords on Wednesday.
He raised the need for more apprenticeships to be available for young people, saying they provided them with "dignity and standing".
Meanwhile his successor as MP for Glasgow North East made his debut speech in the Commons.
Lord Martin told peers he had been "deeply saddened" that there were no apprentices in the Palace of Westminster when he became Speaker in 2000.
Having approached foremen and managers of all departments, he said he had received "first-class cooperation," which led to apprentices now learning many of the trades in use across the parliamentary estate.
"They embarked upon a scheme which not only was it a success when it started, it is still a success," he said.
Lord Martin added that when Parliament passed laws to encourage firms to be involved in increasing training, "then we must set a good example and train our young people".
This year Lord Martin became a crossbench peer after 30 years in the Commons.
He was the first Speaker in more than 300 years to be forced to stand down. MPs were unhappy with his management of the expenses scandal.
In the Commons on Wednesday Labour's newest MP Willie Bain spoke for the first time.
He used his debut to pay tribute to his predecessor as MP for Glasgow North East, Lord Martin, calling him an "exceptional person and parliamentarian".
Bain called on MPs to unite in facing the recession.
"Our constituents will judge us harshly if we fail to act now," he said.
"These will be vital months in securing our economic recovery, and the jobs and living standards of millions of people will be affected by the decisions we take."
On the same day businessman and TV star Lord Sugar delivered his maiden speech to the Lords, describing himself as a "blunt" and "honest" voice.
He said that he would fight to ensure that "we will emerge stronger form the downturn".
The Conservatives have said Lord Sugar's TV work and government role as "enterprise tsar" are incompatible.
In a reference to his BBC One show The Apprentice he told peers: "I am the new boy on the block. In your Lordships' House I am certainly the apprentice."
In a debate on equality, social affairs, health and education on Thursday the Chief Rabbi, Lord Sacks, used his maiden speech in the House of Lords to call for teachers to be more valued.
He told the House how "freedom depends on education".
"To defend a country you need an army," he said.
"To defend a civilisation you need schools.
"In ancient times the Egyptians built pyramids, the Greeks built temples, the Romans built amphitheatres, the Jews built schools and because of that, alone among ancient civilisations Judaism survived."
Lord Sacks added that schools had to "fight against a culture that sometimes overvalues material success".
"I simply wish to say: let us value our teachers, celebrate our schools, keep education at the top of our priorities and we will raise a generation of British children who will make us proud," he said.
Lord Sacks was awarded a life peerage in July this year, and took the title Baron Sacks of Aldgate.
Dods Parliamentary Communications Ltd
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