Apprenticeships endorsement could aid IT sector

12:55 27th February 2009

An endorsement of work-based training schemes by the skills minister could see a rise in the number of people taking up IT apprenticeships.

Lord Young insists the schemes should be judged alongside university when young people consider further education options.

For too many years parents and teachers have been giving undue bias to undergraduate courses, he complains, rather than considering these alternative career routes.

"We want them to look at both options, look at a vocational career and look at what you can get from an apprenticeship and it might be a better choice for many young people and adults as well," Lord Young explains.

His comments come as the country comes to the end of National Apprenticeship Week, a five-day scheme aimed at highlighting the benefits of work-based learning.

According to recent research carried out by the Learning and Skills Council, 69 per cent of people agree their company benefits from apprenticeships while 81 per cent think their firm experiences higher overall productivity from them.