According to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), Apprenticeship starts increased across all regions of the country at all levels, with particularly strong growth at advanced and higher levels.

The statistics also show more learners are participating in Skills for Life courses to improve basic skills, with 1,374,200 people starting these types of courses in the first three months of the 2011/12 academic year.

Skills Minister John Hayes said: “The growth in apprenticeships is really welcome news. The Government has put apprenticeships at the heart of our skills policy because they equip people with the skills they need for a prosperous future and provide businesses with the expertise they need to grow.

“As we look to rebalance our economy, it is particularly encouraging to see an increase in the number of apprentices in the engineering and manufacturing sector.

“At the same time as increasing the number of apprenticeships, I have been relentless in my commitment to quality – striving to ensure that every apprenticeship is as good as the best.”

Natalie Thornhill

(Pictured: Skills Minister John Hayes)