The government launched National Apprenticeship Week yesterday and backed up the promotion by unveiling a new grant for organisations willing to take on unemployed 16 and 17 year olds.

 
The National Apprenticeship Service, which was set up in April last year, will offer up to 5,000 Apprenticeship Grants for Employers (AGE) of £2,500 per candidate until the end of March. Organisations must be prepared to take on workers within the target age group immediately, however.
 
The grant is provided in addition to training costs, which are already met by the Service, and is being targeted particularly at small-to-medium companies.
 
Business Minister Pat McFadden, said: “In 1997, apprenticeships had dwindled as a route for people to gain new skills. Today, we have 239,900 starting apprenticeships and businesses of all sizes are reaping the rewards of a highly skilled workforce.”
 
Last year, some 143,000 people completed an apprenticeship, ahead of government targets of 130,000 by fiscal year 2010/2011. The aim is to create a further 35,000 new advanced technical apprenticeship places over the next two years.
 
Following the announcement, participant employers lined up to list their credentials. The Morrisons supermarket chain plans to create more than 20,000 apprenticeship places over the year ahead and will offer training in bakery, butchery and retail skills to level 2 or the equivalent of five good GCSEs.
 
Crossrail will take on 400 apprentices next year via its contractors and B&Q will double its intake to 300 this September. McDonalds, meanwhile, now provides a Level 2 Apprenticeship in Multi-Skilled Hospitality and has brought 5,000 employees into the scheme since its launch in January last year. The company undertakes the training itself, but the nationally-recognised qualification is accredited by awards body, City & Guilds.