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Apprentices target 'to be missed' Apprentices target 'to be missed'
(1 day later)
The government will miss its target of 130,000 apprenticeships being completed every year by 2010-11, the Tories say.The government will miss its target of 130,000 apprenticeships being completed every year by 2010-11, the Tories say.
The Conservatives say official figures show 112,600 apprenticeships were completed in 2007-08, up 800 from 111,800 the previous year. They say official figures show 112,600 apprenticeships were completed in 2007-08, up from 111,800 in 2006-08.
They say if the number continued to increase by 800 each year, the target would be reached only in 2029-30.They say if the number continued to increase by 800 each year, the target would be reached only in 2029-30.
But the government insisted the Tories were wrong and the target would be met in two years. Ministers said it would be met in two years. They were highlighting new apprenticeships in the public sector on a cabinet visit to Southampton.
With figures also showing that the number of apprenticeships started by 16 to 24-year-olds are falling sharply, shadow skills secretary David Willetts said a "huge gap" between ministers' promises and their actual achievements remained.With figures also showing that the number of apprenticeships started by 16 to 24-year-olds are falling sharply, shadow skills secretary David Willetts said a "huge gap" between ministers' promises and their actual achievements remained.
Some 83,000 under-25s started apprenticeships in August to October 2007-08, while 73,000 started the following year. Some 83,000 under-25s started apprenticeships in August to October 2007, while 73,000 started the following year.
'Shocking fall''Shocking fall'
Mr Willetts said: "The government is way off its target for increasing apprenticeships.Mr Willetts said: "The government is way off its target for increasing apprenticeships.
"The number of under-25s starting apprenticeships is falling, and there's a particularly shocking fall in apprenticeships for 16 to 18-year-olds."The number of under-25s starting apprenticeships is falling, and there's a particularly shocking fall in apprenticeships for 16 to 18-year-olds.
"Once again, Gordon Brown is letting down young people and failing to deliver the skills we need to emerge from the recession.""Once again, Gordon Brown is letting down young people and failing to deliver the skills we need to emerge from the recession."
But Skills Secretary John Denham insisted: "David Willetts is wrong. We will meet our target of 130,000 completions by 2010-11."But Skills Secretary John Denham insisted: "David Willetts is wrong. We will meet our target of 130,000 completions by 2010-11."
The public sector employs 20% of the national workforce but currently offers fewer than one in 10 apprenticeships. Our legislation will build on the massive expansion in apprenticeships and skills training in the last decade Children's Secretary Ed BallsThe public sector employs 20% of the national workforce but currently offers fewer than one in 10 apprenticeships. Our legislation will build on the massive expansion in apprenticeships and skills training in the last decade Children's Secretary Ed Balls
Ministers are due to announce plans for 21,000 further public sector apprenticeships in England this year.Ministers are due to announce plans for 21,000 further public sector apprenticeships in England this year.
Mr Denham and Children's Secretary Ed Balls said the new places to be announced would deliver on the pledge earlier this year to create 35,000 additional apprenticeships.Mr Denham and Children's Secretary Ed Balls said the new places to be announced would deliver on the pledge earlier this year to create 35,000 additional apprenticeships.
A wave of new on-the-job training schemes are due to begin in hospitals, schools and council offices.A wave of new on-the-job training schemes are due to begin in hospitals, schools and council offices.
The 21,000 new apprenticeships include an extra 5,000 places in the NHS, 7,500 in local government and 4,500 in schools and children's services.The 21,000 new apprenticeships include an extra 5,000 places in the NHS, 7,500 in local government and 4,500 in schools and children's services.
In addition, all construction companies winning contracts for the Building Schools for the Future scheme will have to provide formal training programmes.In addition, all construction companies winning contracts for the Building Schools for the Future scheme will have to provide formal training programmes.
That will create up to 1,000 extra apprenticeships from June, including posts in construction, information technology and facilities management and a further 1,000 in the Ministry of Defence.That will create up to 1,000 extra apprenticeships from June, including posts in construction, information technology and facilities management and a further 1,000 in the Ministry of Defence.
TV campaignTV campaign
The announcement marks the start of National Apprenticeships Week.The announcement marks the start of National Apprenticeships Week.
Sir Alan Sugar has been enlisted to front a television campaign to promote apprenticeships and will join ministers to host the first of a series of seminars with employers and young people.Sir Alan Sugar has been enlisted to front a television campaign to promote apprenticeships and will join ministers to host the first of a series of seminars with employers and young people.
Mr Denham said apprenticeships had been "transformed" over the last decade - from 65,000 in 1997 to a quarter of a million this coming year.Mr Denham said apprenticeships had been "transformed" over the last decade - from 65,000 in 1997 to a quarter of a million this coming year.
Mr Balls said it was "crucial" that the public sector helped to build a "motivated, highly skilled workforce".Mr Balls said it was "crucial" that the public sector helped to build a "motivated, highly skilled workforce".
He added: "Our legislation will build on the massive expansion in apprenticeships and skills training in the last decade - giving every young person who wants one the right to an apprenticeship will allow young people to fulfil their working potential."He added: "Our legislation will build on the massive expansion in apprenticeships and skills training in the last decade - giving every young person who wants one the right to an apprenticeship will allow young people to fulfil their working potential."