EBL News

Photo: MP Graham Evans meeting with apprentices along with EBL Group Managing Director, Edward Basnett

Statistics published last week by the Government show it has exceeded its ambition of delivering 50,000 additional adult apprenticeships over the 2010-11 financial year, by actually delivering more than 103,000 additional adult apprenticeships than were projected under the previous government's plans.

Provisional data shows that a total of 257,000 adult apprenticeships have been delivered between April 2010 and March 2011.

By the end of this Parliament, the Coalition Government is committed to supporting an additional 250,000 apprenticeships, compared to the previous Labour Government's plans.

John Hayes MP, Minister for Skills, said: “We have met our target for new apprenticeships in 2010-11 twice over. In only nine months, we are almost halfway towards achieving our aim of an extra 250,000 apprenticeships over this parliament. And figures suggest this government has created more new apprenticeships in one year than Labour managed in seven.

“But there is no room for complacency. Apprenticeships are a vital tool for re-building the economy after the last government ran it into the ground.”

Graham Evans MP commented: “Creating 257,000 apprenticeships in the space of one year is an amazing achievement. That is a huge number of young people who now have the chance learn new skills and get a great start to their working life.

“I am an unashamed supporter of apprenticeships and such rapid progress makes me incredibly proud to support this Coalition Government as well.”