Mulholland hails record rise in apprenticeships for Leeds North West  

Member of Parliament for Leeds North West, Greg Mulholland, has today welcomed the news that in Leeds North West, 560 constituents benefited from an apprenticeship last year, a 103% rise on 2009/10. Across England, almost half a million people were in apprenticeships in 2010/11. The news comes as the Coalition Government launches the biggest ever National Apprenticeships Week, seeking to build on last year's success with over 500 events in schools and businesses. Skillset (the sector skills council for the creative industries) in partnership with the National Apprenticeships Service (NAS), and supported by the Government, have pledged to work with 300 businesses in industries such as fashion, media and design to deliver 500 apprenticeships. The first places are set to be offered in September 2012. Many of these businesses are small firms who from next week will be able to apply for an...