Wednesday 25 April 2012

JOHNSON: 1,000 APPRENTICESHIPS A WEEK

Boris Johnson has today pledged to work with London businesses to generate 250,000 apprenticeships by 2016 – an average rate of 1,000 a week – doubling the current commitment.

• The move, reflecting the commitment in his 9 point plan to grow the London economy and get young people into work, comes with official figures showing an 84 per cent conversion rate from apprenticeships into employment.
• It follows a doubling of the number of apprenticeships during his Mayoralty, with over 54,000 created in the last 18 months and Boris Johnson on course to achieve his goal of 100,000 new apprenticeships by the end of the year.
• When Boris Johnson became Mayor in 2008 London had just 6 per cent of apprenticeships in the UK while having 12.5 per cent of the population. Under him, apprenticeships have grown in London at a faster rate than any other region in the country.
• Many of the positions created under Boris Johnson have been in companies across a range of sectors in London’s economy including Microsoft, HSBC, Virgin Media and the law firm Norton Rose.

Meeting with apprentices in Brixton, Boris Johnson said: ‘These are tough times and it is vital to get young people into work. A good apprenticeship can be worth far more than any amount of training. You learn the on-the-job skills that anyone needs to survive and thrive in the workplace.

‘That is why we have worked constructively with London business to create 54,000 apprenticeships in the last 18 months. We are now accelerating the programme, with a thousand new apprenticeships a week, across all sectors. And crucially these apprenticeships are leading to real jobs - 84 per cent are staying on in work.’

Boris has also supported the Government’s £6 million scheme to create 4,000 apprenticeships which entitles small and medium-sized business to apply for a £1,500 incentive payment when employing an apprentice aged 16 to 24. In recognition of the difficulties often faced by apprentices he has pledged to extend the eligibility for travel discounts to those apprentices on a recognised scheme.

ENDS

Notes to editors

• 6 per cent of apprenticeships in 2008. In 2008 London had 14,520 apprenticeship starts which represents 6.5 per cent of the 224,800 apprenticeships started in the UK (The Data Service, Apprenticeship Supplementary Tables, link).

• 12.5 per cent of the population. However London’s 2008 mid-year population of 7,668,300 in 2008 was 12.5 per cent of the UKs population of 61,398,200 (ONS stats).

• Apprenticeships have grown faster in London than anywhere else in the country. Since 2008, apprenticeships have grown by 185.12%, the fastest rate in the country (The Data Service, Apprenticeship Supplementary Tables, link).

• Boris Johnson has doubled apprenticeships. Boris Johnson has doubled the number of apprenticeships with 54,470 created over the past 18 months (Mayor of London, Press Release, 7 February 2012, link).

• A wide range of employers. A wide range of employers including HSBC, Microsoft, Virgin Media and law firm Norton Rose have signed up to offer apprenticeships (GLA, Press Release, 7 February 2011, link; Apprenticeships Website, link).

• On target for 100,000. Boris Johnson is on target to achieve his goal of creating 100,000 apprenticeships by the end of 2012 (Mayor of London, Press Release, 7 February 2012, link).

• Working with businesses to create 1,000 apprenticeships a week. Boris Johnson has pledged to continue working with London businesses to generate a further 250,000 apprenticeships in London by the end of 2016. This more than doubles the current commitment and if realised would see an average of 1,000 apprenticeships a week created (Boris Johnson, Growing the London Economy, 2008, p. 18).

• Real Jobs. Boris Johnson has overseen 84 per cent of apprenticeships being converted into real jobs with 29 per cent of these in a skilled trade (Learning & Skills Council, The Benefits of Completing and Apprenticeship, April 2009, p. 30, link).

• Easier for SMEs to recruit apprenticeships. Boris Johnson will make it easier for small and medium sized companies to recruit apprentices through the Government’s £6 million programme which aims to recruit 4,000 apprenticeships (Boris Johnson, Growing the London Economy, 2008, p. 18).

• Incentives for SMEs. Boris Johnson supports the Government’s scheme managed by the National Apprenticeship Service which entitles those small and medium sized businesses to apply for a £1,500 incentive when employing an apprentice aged 16 to 24 (Boris Johnson, Growing the London Economy, 2008, p. 18).

• Supporting apprentices. Boris Johnson is determined to support apprentices and he will extend the same travel discounts as those over 18 and in full time education are eligible for to anyone undertaking an apprenticeship on a recognised scheme.