£20m Government boost for training

The additional funding was announced as Skills Minister Matthew Hancock travelled to Nottingham to meet young people already taking part in the scheme.

Traineeships, which began in August, provide 16 to 23-year-olds with the skills, experience and confidence to compete in the labour market – helping them secure Apprenticeships or other jobs.

More than 500 providers have pledged to take on trainees this year and so far 150 companies, both large and small, have all expressed an interest in offering placements to young people. They include household names such as BAE Systems and Siemens.

Toby Peyton-Jones, HR Director of Siemens plc, said: "Siemens supports Traineeships wholeheartedly– this new programme is a very important stepping stone that enables young people to gain skills that allow them to enter Apprenticeships in Engineering or take up a job in the engineering supply chain.”

Steve Radley, Director of Policy at EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation, added: "Investing an additional £20m into the Traineeship programme will mean more young people have a better chance of stepping onto the career ladder, whether this is into an apprenticeship or into employment. Traineeships have already been positively adopted in industries in manufacturing.

"However, if government wants more employers to get on board, it should extend the traineeship model to a maximum of 12 months. This will enable learners to really grasp the skills and experience that employers demand, whilst having the opportunity to take relevant vocational qualifications which employers value.”