Apprentices Mr. Willetts To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills with reference to the answer of 22 May 2008, Official Report, column 392W, on apprentices, what progress has been made on the establishment of apprenticeships in his Department; and how many apprentices his Department employed at the latest date for which figures are available. Mr. Simon I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 24 February 2009, Official Report, column 741W. Mr. Hayes To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills which 10 (a) companies and (b) trades have provided the largest number of apprenticeships in (i) 2006, (ii) 2007 and (iii) 2008. Mr. Simon [holding answer 3 February 2009]: Table 1 shows the 10 sector frameworks that have provided the largest number of apprenticeships in 2005/06, 2006/07 and 2007/08. This information was published in supplementary tables that accompanied the post-16 education statistical first release on 18 December 2008. Information about companies providing apprenticeships is not currently available. ------------------------------------------ |2005/06 | ------------------------------------------ | |Apprenticeship starts| ------------------------------------------ |Customer service |15,700| ------------------------------------------ |Construction |15,500| ------------------------------------------ |Hospitality and catering |15,300| ------------------------------------------ |Business administration |15,100| ------------------------------------------ |Hairdressing |14,900| ------------------------------------------ |Children's care learning and development|12,300| ------------------------------------------ |Engineering |11,500| ------------------------------------------ |Health and social care |8,200| ------------------------------------------ |Retail |7,300| ------------------------------------------ |Vehicle maintenance and repair |6,700| ------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------------- | |Apprenticeship starts| ---------------------------------------------------------------- |Construction |20,700 | ---------------------------------------------------------------- |Hairdressing |17,000 | ---------------------------------------------------------------- |Business administration |15,500 | ---------------------------------------------------------------- |Customer service |15,200 | ---------------------------------------------------------------- |Children's care learning and development|13,200 | ---------------------------------------------------------------- |Hospitality and catering |13,200 | ---------------------------------------------------------------- |Engineering |11,600 | ---------------------------------------------------------------- |Vehicle maintenance and repair |8,800 | ---------------------------------------------------------------- |Retail |8,100 | ---------------------------------------------------------------- |Health and social are |7,400 | ---------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | |Apprenticeship starts| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Customer service |21,000 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Construction |20,400 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Business administration |18,100 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Hairdressing |16,500 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Children's care learning and development |15,300 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Hospitality and catering |14,900 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Engineering |13,900 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Health and social care |12,500 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Vehicle maintenance and repair |12,500 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Retail |11,800 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Notes:1. Volumes are rounded to the nearest hundred.2. This table uses programme starts as a measure for comparative purposes. Full-year numbers are a count of the number of starts at any point during the year. Learners starting more than one course will appear more than once.3. Programme-Led Apprenticeships recorded in WBL ILR returns are included in the above figures.Source:Work based Learning Individualised Learner Record| | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. Mr. Sanders To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many apprenticeships have been (a) advertised and (b) filled through the National Apprenticeship Vacancy Matching Service in 2009 to date. Mr. Simon The National Apprenticeships Vacancy Matching Service has been developed to provide a high quality service to employers wishing to recruit apprentices, and to young people and adults considering an apprenticeship. This service will help deliver the objective outlined in world-class apprenticeships to expand and improve the quality of our Apprenticeships programme. On the 4 March 2009, 3,755 vacancies were live on the system. In these early weeks since the system went live on the 12 January 2009, we have had confirmation from employers that 22 vacancies have already been filled via this service. Interest from individuals is high and since the national launch of the online vacancy matching system 26,035 people have registered as candidates to use the system. The system is not due to be fully open until 1 April.