THE number of people starting apprenticeships in Cambridgeshire has increased by 2.5 per cent.

A total of 4,273 people in Cambridgeshire started an apprenticeship in the year up to April.

While the situation is encouraging in Cambridgeshire, there has been a national reduction in people starting apprenticeships of 6 per cent.

Councillor David Harty, Cambridgeshire County Council’s cabinet member for education and learning, said: “Credit must go to our colleges and private training providers who have embraced the apprenticeship path to give people stable employment along with a national qualification.

“Soon all young people aged from 16 to 18 will be expected to be in an apprenticeship, a job with recognised training, or to continue education to A-level.

“This gives young people a choice and parents should ensure, through schools, that their children are given all the options available.”