Government to double number of civil service apprenticeships

The government has promised to double the number of apprentices working in the Civil Service.

More than 1,000 apprentices will work in central government departments and agencies this academic year, more than double the original target, skills secretary John Denham announced.

In January, Whitehall departments committed to expanding the number of apprenticeship places available in the public sector with 500 new apprentices beginning their training from September.

Denham also called on the public sector to increase apprenticeship numbers as the UK heads towards recession.

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Denham said: “Public sector apprenticeships are going to be even more important in the current economic climate, and they offer a key opportunity to enable young people and adults to reach their potential and help see us through the current difficulties.

“But while the Civil Service is showing the way ahead, the wider public sector needs to do more, and I will be working with colleagues across government to improve the take-up of apprenticeships in other areas such as health and local government.”