Stephen Gardner, the LSC’s Director of Work Based Learning, said: “Apprenticeship providers have been reporting waiting lists and the additional funds will ensure that every employer who wishes to recruit an apprentice can do so.

“The need for additional funds for Apprenticeships arises from the success of the LSC’s marketing campaign in attracting new employers to offer Apprenticeships and the efforts of providers who are improving retention and achievement.

“We will ensure that the money being made available is put to the best use by directing it to fund existing and new apprentice places with organisations that provide high quality, value for money training.”

The LSC and the Department for Education and Skills launched a new, reformed and expanded ‘family’ of Apprenticeships in May last year to succeed the former Modern Apprenticeships. At the same time the LSC began a nationwide marketing and advertising campaign targeted at increasing the number of employers offering places.

The campaign has increased the take up of Apprenticeships by employers and by young people. The number of young people aged 16-24 who are currently taking an Apprenticeship now exceeds 255,000 - a record figure which compares with 75,800 trainees in 1997.

Cogent Head of External Affairs, Mervin Dadd, said: We welcome the additional funding which we hope will lead to more people gaining access to valuable workplace skills. We are pleased to see that the efforts of the LSC, DfES and SSCs such as Cogent working with each other and with our sector employers has raised the profile of Apprenticeships .