This week The Prime Minister announced the creation of 16,000 new apprenticeships by major companies across construction, engineering, and the retail sectors. The apprenticeships will be launched in partnership with companies including National Grid, Costa Coffee and Morrisons.
The Conservatives have created more than two million apprenticeships since coming to power in 2010, the Party wants to more than double that figure if voted in again at this election.
Among the places announced this week are 9,000 training positions with Morrisons to be created over the next five years; 6,000 hired by Whitbread; 500 by National Grid; and 200 by Dairy Crest, which will also open a dedicated training academy.
David Cameron said, launching the Costa Coffee apprenticeship scheme: “We want apprenticeships to be level-pegging with a university degree giving millions more people the dignity of work and a regular pay packet.
“We’ve already created 2.2 million apprenticeships since 2010 but a future Conservative government is committed to opening up three million more high quality apprenticeships – to help strengthen our economy and communities and give millions more people financial security.”
Welcoming the new apprenticeship places, Greg Hands, Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Chelsea & Fulham said: “I recently opened the Chelsea Apps academy in Fulham, and it is vital that young people have the skills they need to do well in life and make the most of their talents. That is why we are putting apprenticeships at the forefront of our long-term economic plan, funding more of them and making sure they are high quality, teaching the skills that businesses need.
"We are giving young people proper training and the prospect of a better future. Millions are getting a good start in life, learning a trade, and knowing the purpose and pride that comes with that.
"There has never been a better time to start an apprenticeship and it’s a huge leap forward to have even more of Britain’s most prestigious employers hiring apprentices, and apprenticeships should be considered to be on a level with a university degree.”
Baroness Karren Brady, Conservative Peer and star of BBC’s The Apprentice, also welcomed the announcement, saying that apprenticeships were a "fantastic boost" for young people's long-term career prospects. She said: “Each apprenticeship is a chance for young people to master a trade, learn on the job and take home money in your pocket each week.
“I remember that feeling of being 18, 19, 20 years old, hungry to get on and desperate for someone to give me an opportunity so I could prove myself.
“As soon as someone gives you a chance and believes in you - it's a moment that can transform your life.”
In addition the Conservative Government is offering £1,500 grants for small businesses to take on 16- to 24-year-old apprentices. From April 2016, employers will no longer have to pay the jobs tax on earnings up to the upper earnings limit for apprentices aged under 25. In October 2015, the National Minimum Wage for apprentices will rise by 57p an hour to £3.30, an increase of over 20 per cent.