The following table shows the number of people starting a Level 2 apprenticeship in the local authorities of Barnsley and Doncaster, and the metropolitan county of South Yorkshire for 2003/04 to 2007/08.
2003/04 2004/05 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 Barnsley 1,100 1,000 1,000 1,100 1,500 Doncaster 1,700 1,700 1,800 1,600 2,000 South Yorkshire 4,900 4,600 4,300 4,200 5,300 Notes: 1. Area is based on home postcode of learner. 2. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 100. 3. South Yorkshire metropolitan county is made up of the local authorities of Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and the City of Sheffield. Source: WBL ILR
The Government are committed to rebuilding Apprenticeships. Since 1997 we have witnessed a renaissance in Apprenticeships from a low point of 65,000 to a record 225,000 apprenticeship starts in 2007/08. Completion rates are also at a record high with 64 per cent. successfully completing an apprenticeship—up from 37 per cent. in 2004/05.