2009 Saw 7% Rise in New Apprentices
Despite the recession across the UK, the total of young people who started apprenticeships in 2009 rose by seven per cent to 239,000 according to figures released by the government’s National Apprenticeship Service.
Cited as the answer to the current problem of skills shortages in the UK, many firms seem to have adopted apprenticeship schemes due to their benefits in providing a trained and more productive workforce, with an established knowledge of their role and duties in the business.
The growing variety of apprenticeship schemes and also diplomas has meant that a wider number of businesses have been able to take advantage of them, with key areas of apprenticeship development ranging from business and law practition to the performing arts. In addition, the completion rate rose to 70.9 per cent in 2009.
Simon Waugh, the NAS’s chief executive, said: “Bearing in mind the recession and the economy, we think this is an extraordinary level of growth. It is a testament to the robustness of the business case.”
Paul Davis, Managing Director at Perspective, commented: “The increase in the number of people undertaking and completing apprenticeships is a huge benefit to the UK economy, and is a testament to the benefit of apprenticeship schemes for businesses. It is of utmost importance that all possible methods are used to ensure this continues to increase in the future.”
