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| Apprenticeship boost in downturn | Apprenticeship boost in downturn |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The government is to fund an extra 35,000 apprentices next year as part of its efforts to tackle the downturn. | The government is to fund an extra 35,000 apprentices next year as part of its efforts to tackle the downturn. |
| Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced an extra £140m for the schemes in England during a visit to Rolls-Royce in Derby on his regional tour. | |
| He has said he wants one in five young people to be on apprenticeships within 10 years. | He has said he wants one in five young people to be on apprenticeships within 10 years. |
| People taking apprenticeships are employed by firms, which receive government funding to provide training. | People taking apprenticeships are employed by firms, which receive government funding to provide training. |
| Ministers see the upgrading of skills as vital if the country is to stay competitive, and in helping to create jobs in the economic downturn. | Ministers see the upgrading of skills as vital if the country is to stay competitive, and in helping to create jobs in the economic downturn. |
| The government is already committed to increasing spending on apprentices in the next year to just under £1bn. The £140m is in addition to that and will expand the programme over the next 12 months. | The government is already committed to increasing spending on apprentices in the next year to just under £1bn. The £140m is in addition to that and will expand the programme over the next 12 months. |
| It already has a target of training 400,000 apprentices a year - almost double the current total - by 2020. | It already has a target of training 400,000 apprentices a year - almost double the current total - by 2020. |
| Skills Secretary John Denham said: "Now more than ever it is important that we give people the real help they need to get and keep jobs. | Skills Secretary John Denham said: "Now more than ever it is important that we give people the real help they need to get and keep jobs. |
| "This is an important initiative and is a further signal of our determination to give people the chance to get the practical training they need to get on and to help ensure the country has the skilled workers it needs to benefit from the upturn." | "This is an important initiative and is a further signal of our determination to give people the chance to get the practical training they need to get on and to help ensure the country has the skilled workers it needs to benefit from the upturn." |
| The workplace training places are jointly funded by government and employers but in previous recessions companies have tended to cut back on apprentices. | The workplace training places are jointly funded by government and employers but in previous recessions companies have tended to cut back on apprentices. |
| At Rolls-Royce in Derby, where the initiative was announced, there are plans to take on at least 50 extra apprentices in addition to the 170 to which the company is already committed. | At Rolls-Royce in Derby, where the initiative was announced, there are plans to take on at least 50 extra apprentices in addition to the 170 to which the company is already committed. |
| The 50 apprentices will be trained to work in other local companies many of which form part of Rolls-Royce's supply chain. | The 50 apprentices will be trained to work in other local companies many of which form part of Rolls-Royce's supply chain. |
| Last month two parliamentary reports questioned whether the government's target could be met without a substantial increase in public investment. | Last month two parliamentary reports questioned whether the government's target could be met without a substantial increase in public investment. |