RADICAL reforms to apprenticeships mean students as young as 14 in Worcestershire and Herefordshire will have the chance to learn new skills at work.

A new set of apprenticeships leading to qualifications is being introduced to include young people aged 14 and adults over the age of 25 for the first time.

This will build on the Modern Apprenticeship scheme, introduced 10 years ago, under which more than 4,000 young people are currently in training across the two counties.

Firms throughout the region are being urged to offer apprenticeship places under the reforms, which are aimed at boosting company productivity and giving employers a much bigger say in how apprenticeships are developed.

The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) has launched a campaign to promote the new apprenticeships and demonstrate the business benefits of taking on apprentices, with a target of creating up to 23,000 new apprenticeship places in 2004-05.

Alan Curless, executive director of the LSC Herefordshire and Worcestershire, based in Midland Road, Worcester, said the new apprenticeships would help to plug the skills gap that has plagued British companies for so long.

Skills shortages

"A recent survey by the Learning and Skills Council showed that 44 per cent of organisations that reported skills shortages said they lost business as a result," he said.

"Apprenticeships provide Herefordshire and Worcestershire businesses with the solution they need to thrive in the 21st Century and make skills shortages a thing of the past."

The new apprenticeships offer employment with vocational training tailored to meet an individual's needs and at a level that is appropriate to their own personal capabilities. There is also the opportunity for apprentices to progress directly to higher education following successful completion of their training.

Speaking at the launch of the new apprenticeships, at Selfridges, in London, on Monday, May 10, Education and Skills Secretary Charles Clarke urged more firms to offer places.

He said the reforms would provide a major boost to company productivity and give employers a much bigger say in how apprenticeships are developed.

For more information about apprenticeships click on: www. apprentice ships.org.uk or phone the Learning and Skills Council on 08000 150 600 if you are a potential apprentice and 08000 150 400 if you are an employer.