THE South-West boasts the highest apprenticeship success rate in the country.

More than 26,000 people started their apprenticeship in the South-West last year, 10,000 of them 16–18-year-olds.

More than 75% of apprentices completed their apprenticeship successfully – the highest number in the country.

According to figures just released by the National Apprenticeship Service, 75.2% achieved their apprenticeship qualifications (the equivalent of five GCSE passes), 75.4% achieved their Advanced Apprenticeship (the equivalent of two A Level passes) and 100% achieved their Higher Level Apprenticeship (equivalent to NVQ Level 4).

More than 10,000 of those starting their apprenticeships were 16-18 year olds, more than 11,000 were 19-24 year olds and nearly 5000 were 25 years and over.

In the South West, statistics reveal that the most popular subject areas for apprenticeships are currently retail and commercial enterprise, business, administration and law and engineering and manufacturing.

John Chudley, regional director of the National Apprenticeship Service, said: “The sector areas covered by apprenticeships are growing all the time and we are constantly adapting to suit the needs of employers.

“The figures just published are proof that increasingly employers are seeing apprenticeships as the answer to their recruiting problems and that the vast majority of apprentices are motivated individuals who want to do well.

“More and more businesses and organisations across the region are realising that apprenticeships are key to a highly skilled and focused future workforce. Providing training on the job, particularly when that training is usually fully funded, just makes good commercial sense.”

Apprenticeships can take between one and four years to complete depending on the level of apprenticeship, the apprentices’ ability and the industry sector. In most cases funding is available to help with training costs — 100% if the apprentice is aged 16 to 18.

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