Engineering news
Apprenticeships in engineering and manufacturing technologies are becoming more popular with employers and young people, according to figures from the National Apprenticeship Service.
The quarterly Apprenticeship Index reveals a 15% increase in sector vacancies posted on the apprenticeship service website between August and October 2013 (academic year first quarter 2013/14) compared to the same period the previous year – 3,930 vacancies were advertised over the three months versus 3,410 in 2012.
Online applications in engineering and manufacturing technologies also increased by 5% to 60,490, with every vacancy attracting an average of 15 applications.
The index also reveals that apprenticeships are attracting increasing numbers of applications from female candidates, with 47% of all applications for apprenticeships made by females last year compared to 43% the previous year.
Matthew Hancock, skills and enterprise minister, said: "With new independent research revealing that one in five employers currently have former apprentices working in senior, board level, positions, it’s also very encouraging to see vacancies increasing and new employers coming on board. But with each online position attracting an average of 12 applications, demand continues to outstrip supply and I would urge more employers to consider how they can take advantage of this available pool of talent and grow their business through apprenticeships.”
Apprenticeship vacancies across all sectors grew by 24% (to 37,410) in the three month period, while applications increased 43% to 461,530. The sector with the highest ratio of applications to vacancies was education and training, which attracted an average of 27 applications per vacancy, followed by arts, media and publishing (26) and information and communication technology (20). The lowest ratio, 10 applications per vacancy, was to be found in retail and commercial enterprise and science and mathematics.