MP: 'Apprenticeships rise is tribute to South Lakes local businesses'

Local MP Tim Farron has today thanked local businesses for their support for new apprenticeships as the latest government figures show that the number of apprenticeships in Cumbria rose again this year.

Tim has been leading the charge for apprenticeships in the county and has pledged to make 2012 the 'year of the apprentice' in Cumbria. Today's positive figures are proof that the campaign is having a real impact.

Since 2009, an extra 2,109 apprenticeships have been created in Cumbria. The provisional figures released by the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), show that 260 new apprenticeships have been created in 2011/12.

In Westmorland & Lonsdale the apprenticeship figures have risen by 96% since 2009, with 760 apprentices in work in 2011/12. In 2005 only 270 apprenticeship places were available in Westmorland and Lonsdale.

Tim said: "Thanks to the work of local businesses and Kendal College and with the support of the Government, more young people across the South Lakes than ever before now have the opportunity to benefit from a variety of apprenticeships that will help to provide them with the skills they need to build their careers.

"More important than the headline figures are the human stories behind them - 40 more people have a job, and a chance to train and learn compared to last year. That is 40 more people and their families who are seeing the chance of a well paid job move a step closer. This is fantastic news and shows that local campaigning really does pay off and make a difference."