Apprenticeship starts across UK employers rose by seven per cent in the first quarter of 2023/24, according to new in-year government figures.

In August, September and October 2023, there were 130,830 starts – up from 122,290 for the same period in 2022.

Also positive is the news that achievements rose significantly with 37,400 for the first quarter of 2023/24, an increase of 22 per cent.

Science sector apprenticeships – such as the Level 3 Laboratory Technician standard – also rose: in the first three months of the academic year there were 200 new starts, an increase of more than 11 per cent compared to the same period last year. This underlines the increasing interest and investment in skills development in the science sector.

Cogent Skills’ Managing Director of Apprenticeship and Graduate Business, Nick Durrington, said: “Apprenticeships offer a valuable route for many learners in a rewarding career, as well as a way for people already on their professional journeys to increase their skills.

“The news that starts and achievements have risen across UK industry is really welcome and we look forward to seeing how science and technology employers are faring when more detailed figures are released later this year.”

These figures have been reported by FE Week – to read the piece, click here.

For the full dataset, click here.