No better time to take on an apprentice - Farron

South Lakes MP Tim Farron has said extended funding for apprenticeships means that 'there is no better time to take one on'.

The Apprenticeship Grant for Employers scheme (AGE) ensures that employers which have not had an apprentice in the last 12 months can access a £1,500 grant for up to ten apprentices, aged between 16 and 24.

The AGE grant will be extended to December 2015, supporting 100,000 additional apprenticeship programmes. From January 2015 the initiative will be exclusively for small employers (fewer than 50 employees). Alongside the bolstering of AGE, the Government also announced £20 million of funding over two years, to support apprenticeships up to postgraduate level.

In Westmorland & Lonsdale apprenticeships are believed to be worth nearly £1.5 million to the local economy, whilst nationally apprenticeships boosted the national economy by £1.8bn. The figures to the year ending April 2013, show that in Westmorland and Lonsdale 760 placements were made available. The figures also show that 300 of those apprenticeships were given to people over the age of 25, 280 of the placements were given to people between 19-24, and a further 180 to people under 19.

Tim said: "Even though we have the lowest unemployment in England, we still must do more to support young people and help create well paid jobs in our community. By safeguarding this funding, I do not think there has been a better time for local firms to take on an apprentice.

"More young people than ever before across the South Lakes now have the opportunity to benefit from an apprenticeship that will help to provide them with the skills they need to start their careers. I want us to build on this success and do even more to help our local young people."