“As a sixteen year old school leaver, an apprenticeship got me working. By the time I was 20, it had also given me my entry into business and means to start my own company. I’ve never doubted the good that it did me.
“I believe that apprenticeships are crucial for future growth. We need a new army of tradesmen to help us out of the current stagnant economy and it is important to teach young people skills that will help build a strong nation and help fuel their personal ambitions.
“Many companies, of all sizes, take on apprentices both because of a sense of social responsibility and because they appreciate the need to train people for the future. But this is a costly business. It can be two years before a young apprentice delivers any return on investment.
“The Youth Contract, which incentivises employers to take on apprentices through wage subsidies is a welcome step forward as it is the first initiative to truly recognise that it is employers that create jobs, not colleges or even government. It makes perfect sense to get young people into a job and stop putting obstacles in the way.”