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Member of Parliament for Bradford East@DavidWardMP on Twitter and Facebook |
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David Ward MP <>
Apprenticeships target smashed
June 27, 2011 5:50 PM
MP for Bradford East, David Ward, welcomed news that the Government has delivered more than 100,000 extra apprenticeships, twice as many as expected, but said that more still needs to be done to increase the availability of apprenticeships in smaller companies.
Figures released by the Government, show that there were over 40,000 people who started an apprenticeship for the first time last year in Yorkshire and the Humber. This represents an increase of nearly 12,000 since last year.
Commenting David Ward MP said:
"Apprenticeships are an excellent way to help young people gain the skills and knowledge to start out on the job market. I've been working hard to help local businesses in my constituency to take on apprentices so I'm glad to hear that the government has made additional funding available to allow more people to follow this route.
"It is of huge value to young people and to businesses in Yorkshire that over 40,000 apprentices started last year, an increase of nearly 12,000 and the biggest numbers in our history.
"However in Bradford demand for apprenticeships still outstrips supply so I am encouraging the government to do everything it can to help smaller local businesses to take on apprentices by cutting redtape and looking at providing some modest financial support for the smallest firms."