A NEW study has estimated that apprenticeships contributed £2bn to the North-East economy during 2014.

The study by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) found that the North-East had 61,230 apprentices taking part in schemes in 2012-13, or 6.4 per cent of the total for England.

It also found that the North-West has the highest concentration of apprentices in the population as a whole.

A separate study, by Ancestry.co.uk and Lincoln University, has shown the changing nature of apprenticeships over the last 100 years.

The research reveals significant changes to the sectors and roles apprentices are working in.

The sector that employed the most apprentices in 1914 was dressmaking, compared to health and social care today. But in contrast, engineering and construction apprenticeships feature as prominently today as they did in 1914.

The historical research also found that women in 1914 made up only 22 per cent of apprentices. Today they count for 55 per cent.

The CEBR report also found that for every £1 spent on apprenticeships, the national economy gains £21.

It also predicts that if the upward trend in apprentice recruitment continues, the national economy could be set to gain £50 billion by 2025 and £101 billion by 2050.

Sue Husband, director of apprenticeships at the National Apprenticeship Service said: “We urge employers to take stock of what has been achieved in the last century and to consider how apprenticeships could contribute to their business and the wider economy in the years to come.”

In order of popularity the top 10 most popular trades for apprentices in 1914 were dressmaking, engineering, carpentry, drapery, millinery, fitting, joinery, tailoring, plumbing and printing.

In 2014 the most popular were health and social care, business administration, management, hospitality and catering, customer service, children’s care, retail, construction, engineering and hairdressing.

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