THE most popular apprenticeship 100 years ago was in dressmaking, compared with health and social care today, a new study has shown.

Trades including carpentry, millinery, tailoring and drapery were also in the top 10 in 1914, while growth sectors in recent years have been in industries such as digital, banking and tax consultancy and other professional services.

Research into 100 years of apprenticeships by the National Apprenticeship Service showed that most apprentices in 1914 started work aged 15-17, compared with 19-24 today.

Women made up just over a fifth of apprentices in 1914 but today's figure is 55 per cent.

A century ago apprentices had to pay a fee to their employer to cover the cost of their training and even pay for their own tools.

They could be summoned before a court for turning up late, being idle or just having a bad attitude, which could land them in prison.

In contrast, today's apprentices have their training paid for by employers and the Government, their tools are provided and they have access to higher education.

Sue Husband, of the National Apprenticeship Service, said: "The employers of yesterday, like those of today, recognised the value of apprenticeships in equipping people with the skills businesses required. Today more than 100,000 employers are offering quality apprenticeships, building on the example of pioneering forefathers before them.

"We urge employers to take stock on what has been achieved in the last century and to consider how apprenticeships could help their business deliver for years to come."

Krista Cowman, Professor of History at the University of Lincoln, said: "Life was tough for apprentices back then. They often started with very menial tasks, working long hours over several years. They could also be summoned to court if they misbehaved."