Today (2 February) sees the launch of the second National Apprenticeship Week, aimed at celebrating apprentices and promoting apprenticeships in Britain.

The apprenticeship scheme provides a real opportunity for employers to take on cost-effective labour who can be trained to meet the specific needs of their business. For apprentices, the scheme delivers paid, on-the-job experience at a time when University places are at a premium and tuition fees and the student loan means years of debt for graduates.

A recent survey on behalf of the Learning and Skills Council identified that the 76% of employers asked, stated that apprentices helped them to improve productivity and 77% felt that the scheme helped them to be more competitive. 59% said that training apprentices is more cost-effective than hiring skilled staff, leading to lower overall training and recruitment costs.

With the targeted age group of 16 – 24, also the age group that has most suffered in the recession, the apprenticeship scheme offers a real lifeline for young people looking to start their careers and allows employers to grow their business without taking large financial risks.

For apprentices between the ages of 16 –18, the National Apprenticeship Scheme (NAS) will fund 100 per cent of the cost of training and up to 50 per cent for those aged 19 and over. In addition, to further promote the scheme, the NAS is offering up to 5,000 grants, worth £2,500 each, to employers who take on apprentices between 16 and 17 before the end of March 2010.

Legally, all apprentices – except for those in the agricultural sector – must be paid at least £95 a week, though according to the NAS the weekly average is £170. Employers who take on apprentices must provide 16 hours of paid employment a week and on-the-job training.

Simon Waugh, chief executive of the NAS, said: “We are in danger of becoming a low-skills, low-paid nation. Many firms find their ability to grow is hampered by a lack of skilled labour, yet apprentices are a key, cost-efficient way to get a better trained workforce.”

Apprentices can be considered for almost any business sector, with over 190 different schemes, in industries ranging from tourism to construction. To date, more than 100,000 firms, including giants such as British Gas and Rolls Royce, have apprentices, but Waugh hopes this number will soar, he said: “There is a lack of awareness about apprenticeships in many firms and we (the NAS) want to change this.”

To celebrate National Apprenticeship week, events are taking place throughout the UK, to introduce employers to the scheme and present the business case for taking on an apprentice. For more information, visit, www.apprenticeships.org.uk.