Engineering and manufacturing apprenticeships are growing in popularity according to new figures from the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS).
The quarterly Apprenticeship Index from the NAS reveals a 15 per cent increase in apprenticeship vacancies in the sector posted online on the apprenticeship vacancies website between August and October 2013, compared to the same period the previous year.
The index also reveals that apprenticeships are attracting increasing numbers of applications from female candidates. Online applications from women across all industries have increased by more than half since 2012, with 216,100 applications made by females in the three month period, a 55 per cent increase. This has also served to narrow the male gender bias, with 47 per cent of all applications for apprenticeships made by females last year compared to 43 per cent the previous year.
“These figures show that apprenticeships are growing in appeal to young people, and yet more young women are seeking out this unique opportunity to earn while they learn and gain a recognised qualification while notching up vital work experience,” says Matthew Hancock MP, Skills and Enterprise Minister.
"With new independent research revealing that one in five employers currently have former apprentices working in senior, board level, positions, it’s also very encouraging to see vacancies increasing and new employers coming on board. But with each online position attracting an average of 12 applications, demand continues to outstrip supply and I would urge more employers to consider how they can take advantage of this available pool of talent and grow their business through apprenticeships.”
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