Apprenticeships: Applicants for 200 jobs near 8,000

The rail firm said yesterday there had been a "massive shift" in the age profile of applicants, with more older people applying for an apprenticeship.

In 2007, two out of three applicants were aged 17 or 18 but this almost halved to 35 per cent last year, while those over the age of 22 have increased five-fold, comprising a fifth of last year's intake, with the oldest aged 35.

The company called for a national debate on the funding of older apprentices, saying equal funding for those over 19, rather than the current level of 50 per cent less support, would help to drive the country's economic recovery.