DAVID Cameron has put pressure on big business to increase the number of apprenticeships schemes in a bid to boost his pre-election pledge to create millions of apprentices in the next five years.

Companies bidding for government contracts worth more than £10m must show they have a "reasonable proportion" of apprentices.

"The greatest asset any employer has is their workforce and by investing in them, they are investing in the success and future of their business." the Prime Minister said, as he pressed ahead with plans to create three million apprenticeships by the end of this parliament.

However, the latest government figures show apprenticeship numbers fell sharply for the second year running in spite of the government making workplace training a cornerstone of its jobs policy.

Provisional numbers released by the Department for Business show 66,000 fewer people started apprenticeships in the last academic than in 2013/14.

Across the North-East 26,730 apprenticeships were started in 2014/15 - down by 3,750 from a year earlier, and a drop of almost 12,000 on the figure for 2011/12.

In Darlington the provisional year-on-year figures showed 220 fewer people started apprenticeships this year, while in Stockton there we 460 fewer.

To help reach the Conservative's ambitious target public bodies – including schools, hospitals, prisons and police forces – will be set targets to employ apprentices as part of their workforce.

The government has also reaffirmed plans for an apprenticeship levy, with large companies investing in a fund that is used to train workers.

"Skilled people are the lifeblood of a strong economy, but for too long UK businesses have invested too little in developing their employees' skills to meet the demands of a competitive, global market," said Skills Minister Nick Boles.

A government consultation is seeking views on paying the levy, which is expected to be in place by April, 2017.

The plan for a levy raised questions from EEF, the manufacturers' organisation.

"With little detail of the level of the levy, who will be required to pay it and how much government will give back in return, manufacturers have a right to remain sceptical that the levy will create the three million additional quality apprenticeships that we all wish to see," Terry Scuoler, chief executive at EEF, said.

He added that a number of large manufacturers "will be surprised by the suggestion from government that it is they who are currently failing to invest in apprenticeships".

The government said levy systems already operated in more than 50 countries.

The British Chambers of Commerce welcomed the announcement of the apprentice plan.

"Apprenticeship schemes can play a part in meeting important ambitions to boost skills and drive-up productivity," said John Longworth, the business group's director general.

But he added that plans to encourage apprenticeships should focus on small businesses, not just larger corporations.

"Government policy is currently too focused on major employers, but equal effort ought to be put on encouraging and supporting smaller businesses to offer apprenticeships," Mr Longworth said.