Union Unite has slammed a decision to make more than 340 former Carillion apprentices redundant as an act of "crass stupidity".

On Monday, a spokesperson for the Official Receiver confirmed 356 people, 341 of whom were apprentices, would leave the business "as their roles are no longer required".

However, Unite described the decision as a further blow to the construction industry due to the current skills crisis.

The union said in 2016/17, there were 21,010 people on construction apprentice courses and this decision to let go of the remaining Carillion apprentices has reduced the UK's total apprenticeship numbers by 1.6%.

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Unite assistant general secretary, Gail Cartmail, said: "This is an appalling way to treat these apprentices who should have become the backbone of the industry. To dump them and to destroy their training is an act of crass stupidity.

"These actions highlight the government's total failure to assist the workers who have been most affected by Carillion's collapse through no fault of their own.

"The government could have used its procurement power to find placements for these apprentices but it chose not to, demonstrating that it is not serious about dealing with the skills crisis facing the industry.

"The dismissal of Carillion's remaining apprentices once again demonstrates that the construction skills crisis will not be tackled until procurement rules are introduced which require that all companies undertaking public sector contracts must train apprentices."

(LM)