More apprenticeships needed, claims CBI

A portion of the GBP 500 million government recruitment subsidy should be used to fund 50,000 new apprenticeships, it has been claimed.

The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has called for GBP 125 million to be used as an incentive to train new apprentices.

Each company would receive an average subsidy of GBP 2,500 towards the cost of training each apprentice - a move that would help school-leavers in the 'toughest job market in a generation', according to CBI director-general Richard Lambert.

He said: 'Young people are being hardest hit by unemployment and the government must increase the opportunities available to limit its scarring effects.

'Business also needs to support young people by offering more apprenticeships, internships, work experience and mentoring opportunities.'

Official figures released earlier this month indicated that unemployment among 16 to 24-year-olds reached a 16-year high of 726,000 in the second quarter of 2009.