Figures reveal apprentice popularity on the rise

Figures released yesterday by the National Apprenticeship Service revealed a total of 1.4m applications were made online across the UK in the last 12 months. Among the fastest growing apprenticeships advertised were health optical retail, vehicle sales, facilities management and health clinical healthcare support.

Apprenticeships in the arts, media and publishing sector were most in demand in the UK, with an average of 19 applications per vacancy.

The most competitive job areas were live events and promotion, with 35 applications per vacancy, plumbing and heating, and marine industry.

In Yorkshire, business, administration and law attracted the most applications, followed by engineering and manufacturing, retail, health and IT.

The number of apprenticeships posted online by Leeds employers rose by 25 per cent in 2012/13 to 1,950, compared to 1,560 the year before.

With each online vacancy now attracting an average of 12 applications, the Government is urging more employers to consider offering apprenticeships.

Skills minister Matthew Hancock said: “We want to see it become the norm that young people either go to university or into an apprenticeship.

“To match the growing popularity of apprenticeships, I would urge more employers to consider how hiring an apprentice could benefit their business.”

He added: “Research out last week showed that more than 70 per cent of employers say apprentices boosted their service or product – this is testament to the benefits of apprenticeships for both young people and the wider economy.”

Sue Price, divisional director for the National Apprenticeship Service in the North, said: “These figures show that the demand for apprenticeships in Yorkshire and The Humber keeps growing.

“It is the first choice for many talented young people and more employers wanting young talent need to wake up to this fact.”

Potential applicants are also taking advantage of new ways to search for vacancies.

The National Apprenticeship Service said a new apprenticeship vacancy search app for iPhone and Android which launched in February has already been downloaded by almost 11,000 people.