Apprenticeships soar

THE number of people starting apprenticeships in Oldham has almost doubled in a year — and is expected to continue to rise.

Figures form the Department for Business show a 74 per cent increase in start ups from 1,440 in the academic year 2009/10 to 2,510 in 2010/11. And the very latest figures for September to November last year showed 660 new starts.

If this rate was continued throughout the academic year it would be up 130 on last year. 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.”

A full-year constituency breakdown shows the biggest increase was in Oldham East and Saddleworth with 1,060 starts in 2010/11 up 82 per cent.

Oldham West and Royton saw an increase of 67 per cent to 1,170.

The figures come today at the start of national apprenticeship week. The Government said funding for apprenticeships has been increased in 2011/12 to more than £1.4 billion.

Ministers insisted apprenticeships — which it hopes will reduce youth unemployment — were being created across age ranges and at different levels of expertise. Mr Hayes said someone with a level two apprenticeship under their belt, the equivalent of GCSE level, could expect to earn an extra £70,000 over the course of their working life.