Figures reveal a rise in apprenticeships in Bradford district (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Figures reveal a rise in apprenticeships in Bradford district

9:00am Wednesday 13th February 2013 in News

Bradford Council leader David Green has welcomed new figures showing a significant rise in the number of appenticeships in the district, even though it lags behind the regional and national increase.

Coun Green pledged that the authority would ‘not take its foot off the gas’ in efforts to boost opportunities for young people, including those who need extra help to make them ‘work ready’.

Initiatives include the new Get Bradford Working campaign, which aims to create 390 new jobs, 400 new apprenticeships and 300 work experience placements across the district.

Coun Green also praised the Telegraph & Argus 100 apprenticeships in 100 days campaign last year, which exceeded its target with local firms pledging to take on more than 150 trainees.

The latest figures from the National Apprenticeship Service reveal there were 4,950 apprenticeship starts in Bradford during the academic year 2011-12 – 7.2 per cent higher than the previous year. Across the Yorkshire region there were 64,200 apprenticeship starts – a rise of 15 per cent.

The local increase has followed the national trend, with apprenticeship starts in England for 2011-12 topping the half a million mark and recording an overall increase of nearly 14 per cent on the preceding year.

Coun Green said: “The new figures on apprenticeships in Bradford are welcome and encouraging. It shows what can be achieved when the local authority, the media and private sector companies work together to highlight and deliver on available opportunities.

“As a Council we will not take our foot off the gas in this area, which is why we launched the Get Bradford Working initiative last year about which we will provide regular updates on progress.

“It’s important, especially with Bradford’s growing young population, that we work together with businesses to sell the idea of work training opportunities.”

Skills Minister Matthew Hancock said: “It’s great news that apprenticeship have gone up by 15 per cent in Yorkshire and The Humber, to 64,200.

“Apprenticeships are vital in the Government’s drive to create a more highly-skilled workforce who are better able to compete in the global race. We are strengthening apprenticeships further to make them more rigorous, and to respond to the ever-changing needs of the modern workplace.”