Official launch for new apprenticeship service

The NAS, which is responsible for the funding of Apprenticeship places, has been charged by the government to ensure that every suitably qualified young person has the right to an apprenticeship by 2013. Its job will be to make it as easy as possible for employers to take on apprentices, streamlining the application process, and offering support and advice at every step for both the employer and learner. A new online matching service has already been helping employers advertise vacancies and prospective apprentices to apply for the 180 apprenticeship choices across 80 industries that are currently available. So far, more than 10,000 employers and almost 54,000 candidates have registered for the service and there are currently over 4,000 live vacancies available. New research published to mark the launch, highlights the importance of apprenticeships to individuals, businesses and the economy. More than three quarters (76%) of the 3,808 apprentices surveyed, believe that without their apprenticeship they would not be earning their current salary. More than nine out of 10 believed that taking an apprenticeship has provided a number of benefits including better job prospects, higher salaries, improved confidence, better social skills and a stronger sense of direction. They believe it significantly benefited their career and life options and enabled them to secure employment immediately after their apprenticeship ended; very often through the employer they completed their apprenticeship with. Skills and Apprenticeship Minister, Lord Young said: “The launch of the national apprenticeship service is testament to the government’s commitment to ensuring the future of our nation’s skills. Apprenticeship numbers have more than trebled over the past 10 years and the new service will play an integral part in meeting our Apprenticeship targets.