Wednesday, 23 March 2011 15:15

Responding to plans outlined in today's Budget to create 40,000 more Apprenticeships for young unemployed people, unionlearn, the TUC's learning and training organisation, has warned against using unions as just a "quick fix".

Tom Wilson, director of unionlearn, welcomed the government's commitment to supporting "quality Apprenticeshsips", saying they should provide good training and learning and lead to a job.

However, he warned: "They should not be used as a quick fix to solve youth unemployment, otherwise they will go the same way as the failed programmes such as YTS and YOPs. unionlearn is training reps to act as mentors to young apprentices in the workplace and to encourage employers to take them on. Employers must play their part: too few are providing places."

Susannah Fairbairn

(Pictured: unionlearn director Tom Wilson)