The South West could see 10,000 additional apprenticeship places a year by 2015 if employers make the most of extra government funding for training, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander said today.

The Chief Secretary made the announcement today ahead of a visit to Pendennis Shipyard in Falmouth whose award-winning apprenticeship programme teaches young people in the South West to build and refit luxury yachts. He also met apprentices at Fifteen Cornwall in Watergate Bay, which trains and inspires young Cornish people to develop careers as professional chefs.

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The additional funding will go to training providers who will work with employers locally to meet their needs. Employers should contact the National Apprenticeship Service or training providers to find out more about Apprenticeships in their area.

Visiting Cornwall today, Mr Alexander said: "I'm incredibly impressed by the achievements of the apprentices I've met in Falmouth and Newquay. These apprenticeship programmes are leading the charge in Cornwall and I'd like to invite other businesses in the South West to take up the apprenticeship challenge and use government funding to help deliver these additional 10,000 places.

"Returning the UK to sustainable economic growth is the Government's overriding priority. Despite having to take tough decisions elsewhere we have increased investment in apprenticeships to £1.4 billion next year, because this is an investment for the future."

(CD/GK)