A record total of 234,000 people started apprenticeships last year according to the Office of National Statistics (ONS). 126,900 people completed apprenticeships within the same period (academic year) which was the largest number of apprenticeship scheme completions and starts.
Skills Minister Kevin Brennan heaped praise on the apprenticeship initiatives, saying they gave people the chance of a better future.
The number of new apprentices aged over 25 has rocketed by 377% as employers look to skill up and their workforce during the downturn.
Recent Government figures revealed that 46,800 over-25s joined apprenticeships this year, compared to only 12,400 in 2007-08.
The increase in over-25’s in apprenticeships comes at a time when the number of 16- to 18-year-olds in apprenticeships has fallen by 8.3%, likewise the number of 19- to 24-year-olds signing up to apprenticeship schemes dropped by 2%.
A Gov’t spokesperson said the reason was because of the high proportion of over-25s being made redundant and turning to apprenticeships to gain new skills to become more employable. However, most of the upsurge in over-25s apprenticeships are from existing employees of organisations looking to motivate and further develop their staff.
