THOSE of you with an interest in this sort of thing will have noticed the Government has launched a consultation on how to protect the term apprenticeship, writes Jonathan Walker, North East Chamber of Commerce head of policy and campaigns.

I accept this is unlikely to set too many pulses racing, but it is an important move to ensure businesses can invest in training with greater confidence in the product.

While the overwhelming majority of training providers offer top quality service for both employers and learners, there are sadly a few unauthorised exceptions that do not.

The North East Chamber of Commerce is a huge champion of apprenticeships.

We believe they offer young people fantastic opportunities to start a career while gaining skills and qualifications.

For businesses, they provide the flexibility to invest in addressing both current and future skills needs.

The Government has set itself an ambitious target of delivering three million more apprenticeships during this Parliament.

However, as much as Government can change funding and incentives, it is ultimately businesses that will create the opportunities.

We would be the first to admit there is more the business community can do to improve the number of apprenticeships available.

For this to happen, businesses must have confidence in the product, which is why enshrining the status of apprenticeship in law is so important.

Beginning an apprenticeship is also a huge commitment for a young person and they too must have faith that their training will equip them for the future.

For too long, apprenticeships have been seen by some as a second-rate option for young people who do not make the grade academically.

This could not be further from the truth.

The Chamber recently published a celebration of 200 Apprentice Greats; successful business leaders in the North-East who began their career as apprentices.

These included our current president, Mike Matthews, who began his working life as an apprentice and is now managing director of Nifco UK, a phenomenally successful manufacturing operation on Teesside.

As one of the largest independent training providers in the North-East, we see first hand both the calibre of young people looking for work and the range of opportunities available to them.

As a membership body, we also see many businesses are crying out for skills that are not currently available to them in the labour market.

Apprenticeships alone are not the solution to this problem, but they can play a massive role in tackling it and ensuring both businesses and young people can look forward to a positive future.