31.01.12
Apprenticeship starts up 63.5%
The number of apprenticeships started and completed has increased in the past year, with growth taking place at all levels, across all ages, sectors and regions of England.
Statistics from BIS show that 457,200 apprenticeship starts were delivered in the 2010/11, a 63.5% increase on 2009/10.
Of these apprenticeships, 301,100 were at intermediate level, 153,900 were advanced and 2,200 were higher level. Success rates in completing apprenticeships have also risen by over 17.4% since 2006/07 to 2010/11.
Skills minister John Hayes said: “Clarity of policy, strength of commitment and certainty of purpose has delivered record numbers of apprenticeship starts, outstanding success rates and growth across all sectors.
“This success, mirrored in every English region, is putting businesses on stronger ground to deliver a more balanced economy. It is equipping young people with the skills that build prosperous careers, and forging communities in which the common good is served through creative endeavour and purposeful pride.”
Hayes added that cutting bureaucracy and offering funding for companies to implement training would boost the quality of the apprenticeships available.
He continued: “Thousands of higher apprenticeships will open up new pathways to excellence for the brightest and best learners. A zero tolerance approach to unnecessary red tape, and new financial incentives for small firms will enable more employers to offer gold standard training to match and beat our international competitors.”
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