This week is Apprenticeship Week 2010. As Apprenticeships Minister, I have had a busy, hectic and completely enjoyable week, travelling all over the country and meeting apprentices from all walks of life. I have really enjoyed meeting fantastic and committed young people, who want to make a go of their chance to gain a successful and rewarding career. A particular highlight was going to TTE in Redcar on Monday, and meeting with Cleveland Potash apprentices who are trained to a very high level by Hartlepool College of Further Education.

Hartlepool and the North East region practically invented the idea of an apprenticeship, the notion of learning a trade. When I was growing up in the town in the 1980s, the notion of becoming an apprentice was virtually unheard of, as the Government of the day simply didn’t value them.

In 1997, fewer than 70,000 people started an apprenticeship. Last year, despite the difficulties that the recession caused, the figure is now almost quarter of a million. In the last dozen years, we have seen a revival and apprenticeships are now found in every part of the economy, not just the traditional areas like heavy industry and hairdressing. Firms like Heerema in Hartlepool provide a first-class apprenticeship scheme, showing real commitment and loyalty to young people.

I regularly speak with firms, asking then what help they need from Government in order to assist them in considering taking on an apprentice. They’ve been telling me that the recovery is here, but that it is fragile. It would be ridiculous to start pulling support away immediately from the economy, as that would plunge us into a second quick and deep recession. Firms are interested in taking on an apprentice, but are concerned at the cost and commitment for a couple of years.

That is why I was pleased to announce recently a new grant for employers to make it easier to take on young apprentices. Over the next 10 weeks the Government will provide up to 5,000 Apprenticeship Grants for Employers of 16 and 17 year olds. The grant of £2,500 is to enable employers to offer 5,000 new Apprenticeship places and take on an unemployed 16 or 17 year old apprentice immediately. The £2,500 grant is in addition to the costs of training which are already met by the Government. I hope many Hartlepool firms take this offer up to ensure that their businesses can grow, whilst at the same time helping many of the town’s young people.

It makes real business sense to take on an apprentice. Companies can boost productivity, increase staff retention and address skills shortages. In short, firms can make more money! When I was at TTE in Redcar on Monday, I asked the apprentices from Cleveland Potash where they thought they would be in five years’ time. All of them replied – “Cleveland Potash”. If a firm shows a young person loyalty, they will repay this with loyalty ten times over.

I hope firms and young people in Hartlepool will think about an apprenticeship. For more details, please contact me, or log onto www.apprenticeships.org.uk for more details.