Employers have thrown their weight behind the ninth Annual Apprenticeship Week.
Hundreds of events have been taking place throughout the UK to mark the event, which comes to an end tomorrow (Friday.)
Skills Minister Nick Boles said: “We want to give all young people a chance to make the most of their talents and create a better life for themselves. That’s exactly why we are committed to creating three million apprenticeships by 2020.
“At the heart of the apprenticeship drive is the principle that no one better understands the skills employers need than employers themselves. Employers have been given the power to develop new apprenticeships, which clearly and simply set out what an apprentice must learn.”
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) is among the organisations to have given its backing to the initiative.
Mike Cherry, the FSB’s policy director, said: “High quality apprenticeships are vital to the future of British business, and they are a fantastic way to enable people to gain the skills they need to succeed.
“We hope this year’s National Apprentice Week will lead to more businesses considering taking on an apprentice, and more young people seeking apprenticeships.
“The National Apprenticeship Service has lots of good advice for firms thinking of doing so and we encourage small business owners to take a look. We know that if a business has a positive experience when taking on their first apprentice, they are much more likely to take on another in the future.”
Since 2010, two million apprenticeships have been created nationwide encompassing 170 industries including aerospace, fashion and finance.
