According to think tank Demos, women taking Apprenticeships do not benefit financially as much as men.

Some have suggested that this indicates that more should be done to make sure women have the same opportunities to progress through the workplace as their male counterparts.

Those without previous qualifications who undertook Apprenticeships earned an average 13% more than their peers without any qualifications or training.

Those with GCSE grades A-C earned 9% more than their untrained contemporaries, compared to the 4% earned by those who gained GCSE grades D-F.
Julie Margo, director of Demos said: "These findings are great news - it gives young people lacking in these basic character capabilities a second chance.

"Apprenticeships offer experience, a wage and the social contacts that are crucial to get on in life.

"Young people need training to help them operate in the workplace, not qualifications that prepare them to fail."

Another study, by the British Cohort Study, also reveals that disadvantaged young people taking Apprenticeships are more confident to learn new skills and work within a team.

The study also found that 98% of apprentices feel they could run their life the way they wanted - compared to 95% of the general population

However, Demos is calling on the government to do more for young people who are NEET (not in employment, education, or training).

It wants the government to encourage employers to offer young people skilled Apprenticeships to develop both work and life skills.

There are currently 169,000 unemployed 16-17 year olds – costing the state £4.6bn per year - who could benefit from Apprenticeship schemes.

Demos argues that investing in Apprenticeships would drastically lower this cost.

Mark Astley