Employers pledge to boost apprenticeship recruitment

British employers have pledged to increase apprenticeship recruitment, according to a survey released today on the final day of National Apprenticeship Week.

Figures from the National Apprenticeship Service reveal that four out of five employers say apprenticeships will play a bigger part in their recruitment policy in future.

The independent report, compiled by Populus research, suggests that for many employers, the current economic climate makes having an apprenticeship programme more important than ever.

Three-quarters of those interviewed believed that despite the economic crisis, apprentices are more important than ever to their business.  A similar number say that apprenticeships have helped to cut recruitment costs.

Minister for Skills, John Hayes MP, said: "This research demonstrates that British businesses realise how important apprenticeships can be in helping their companies to grow.

"Clarity of policy, strength of commitment and certainty of purpose in government has delivered record numbers of apprenticeship starts, outstanding success rates and growth across all sectors.

"This success, mirrored in every English region, is putting businesses on stronger ground to deliver a more balanced economy."

Supporting the findings, Janine Bolton, director of the NAS, said: "Encouraging more employers to offer quality apprenticeships is absolutely vital in equipping young people with the skills they need for the future and the skills that Britain needs to grow.

"We are committed to creating a new era for apprenticeships with increased quality of courses and ensuring that there has never been a better time to take on or offer an apprenticeship."