Lib Dems create 100,000 apprentices

The Liberal Democrats have delivered a huge boost to apprenticeships, with plans to create at least 100,000 new apprentices over the next two years. As the party of opportunity for young people, the Lib Dems have fought in Government to give more young people the chance to get on in life. The recent budget included two schemes to support apprentices.

• £85m in both 2014-15 and 2015-16 to extend the Apprenticeship Grants for Employers scheme, giving businesses incentive payments to take on apprentices
• £20m to support apprenticeships up to postgraduate level (i.e. degree and masters level apprenticeships)

There is high demand from young people to do an apprenticeship, but not enough employers are coming forward and offering them. On average 12 people apply for every apprenticeship place, but in some sectors the level of demand is twice as high.

The Apprenticeship Grants for Employers scheme, which has already created 40,000 new apprentices, is designed to encourage more employers to offer apprenticeship places, to help meet demand from young people.

The new funding will provide over 100,000 additional incentive payments under the scheme - providing a major boost to the job prospects of young people.

Introducing degree and masters level apprenticeships will give more young people the opportunity to develop their skills to a higher level, where there are currently fewer available qualifications.

Simon Rix, the Lib Dems' prospective MP for Truro and Falmouth said: "Lib Dems have not got everything our own way in government, but we have done some really positive things that have changed the lives of people here in Truro and Falmouth for the better. That includes the 16,500 extra apprenticeships in Cornwall that we have helped make happen since 2010.

"An apprenticeship can give a young person real skills, real hope and a really good start in life. I met a group of young apprentices in Truro recently and they were really buzzing with enthusiasm because of how the scheme is changing their lives for the better. Apprenticeships are both good for business and good for the people involved. They are another way we are working for both a stronger economy and a fairer society."