A BIG fall in the number of apprentices across the region embarrassed the Government yesterday (Monday, Jan 5), as the general election starting gun was fired.

Only 34,040 people started a Government-backed apprenticeship scheme in 2013-14, a decline of more than 15 per cent on the total of 40,120 the previous year.

The number fell in every area of the North-East and North Yorkshire except Hartlepool, the official Government statistics showed.

The biggest falls were in County Durham (down 1,150, or 15.8 per cent), Middlesbrough (down 420, 22.1 per cent), Redcar and Cleveland (down 430, 20.2 per cent) and North Yorkshire (down 1,470, 14.8 per cent).

Across England, the number of starts has plunged by 70,000 to the lowest number since the apprenticeships initiative was launched in 2010.

And there is particular concern over a 6,000 fall in the number of 19 to 24-year-olds becoming apprentices – although no figures were provided for each local area.

David Cameron has personally pointed to apprenticeships as key to his pledge to “end youth unemployment” in the next parliament, with a target to create a further three million.

Chuka Umunna, Labour’s business spokesman, said: “To grow the number of high-skilled, better-paid jobs we need more apprenticeship opportunities - particularly for our young people.

“But, despite David Cameron's claims, we are seeing the numbers of apprenticeships falling and, worryingly, there's been a significant drop in apprenticeship starts for young people.”

The department for business (BIS) said the fall was explained by new rules to raise quality by ensuring all apprenticeships are real jobs” and last at least 12 months.

A spokesman said: “Our insistence on quality has had an impact on numbers in the short term, but has resulted in a marked improvement in the quality of training.”

However, the spokesman later acknowledged the tougher quality and time thresholds had been introduced in 2012-13, not in 2013-14.

The falling numbers come despite generous incentives to employers to take part, receiving grants of £1,500 for each apprentice if they classed as small or medium-sized.

They are meant to pay the national minimum wage, but Labour also leapt on Government research suggesting many are being short-changed.

It found 15 per cent are being paid too little, a proportion rising to almost a quarter of Level 2 and Level 3 16-18 year olds.

Meanwhile, 21 per cent of apprentices receive no formal training, while 93 per cent over the age of 25 already worked for their employer prior to starting their scheme.

There has been long-standing criticism that many apprenticeships are simply existing training programmes which have been “rebadged” – rather than offering new opportunities.

The BIS spokesman urged apprentices who believed they were underpaid to ring a helpline on (0800) 917 2368, adding: “We are naming and shaming offenders and increasing penalties.”