Apprenticeships 'critically important' for employers and workers

With National Apprenticeship Week 2012 underway, one exert has explained the benefits of the apprenticeship scheme for both the business offering them and the candidates.

Spencer Mehlman, managing director of notgoingtouni.co.uk, said that offering placements and apprenticeships to young people looking for career development opportunities is "critically important".

"Apprenticeships give young people access to work and they teach them skills," he explained.

As well as arming school leavers with the necessary skills to join the workforce, training schemes also give them hope that there will be jobs for them in the long run.

Mr Mehlman noted that apprentices are the next generation of staff for employers and investing time and effort into their development should be "every business and industry's responsibility".

"Young people may not have the experience, but they are grounded in all of the most up-to-date skills, technology and techniques - that's useful to have in any business," he added.

His comments come after the prime minister described apprenticeships as a gold-standard option for young people in the UK.

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