MP Oliver Heald has welcomed the doubling in the number of apprenticeships annually in his North East Herts Constituency. This means that there is a record number of apprenticeships locally and reflects an increase across England, where half a million people started an apprenticeship last year. In North East Hertfordshire, 580 people started an apprenticeship last year, which is an increase from 290 in the last year of the previous Government. There has therefore been a doubling in the number of apprentices in the Constituency.
Commenting, Oliver Heald said, “I have been a long-standing supporter of measures to help people back into work and apprenticeships are a fantastic tool for this. I am delighted that the number of people in North East Hertfordshire starting apprenticeship has doubled since the Coalition Government came to power. I believe that giving people this opportunity will ensure that our local businesses have the skills they need for the future, as well as helping the people concerned. I would like many more people in North East Hertfordshire to take up this opportunity.”
ENDS
NOTES: Official statistics on the number of apprenticeships are being published by the Data Service (The Data Service, Quarterly Statistical First Release: Post-16 Education & Skills: Learner Participation, Outcomes and Level of Highest Qualification Held, 11 October 2012).
The figures for North East Hertfordshire come from this Statistical Release.