According to the Office for National Statistics, 234 000 people started apprenticeships in the 2008-2009 academic year, while 126 900 completed apprenticeships during the same period, both record figures.

Skills minister Kevin Brennan stressed the importance of apprenticeships for improving an individual apprentice’s future and for the economy in general. At the same time, the General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Brendan Barber welcomed the news but also stressed that the government should offer more apprenticeships in the private sector.

Sources: Hrmagazine.co.uk/ 23.10.2009