Ben Tilley, 25

AS YOUTH unemployment rises to 22.3 per cent, the Government is encouraging more young people to take up apprenticeships. To prove they are serious about it, Deputy Prime Minister visited Cambridge Regional College last week to lend his endorsement to the vocational learning, speak to apprentices at the college and raise awareness of Government-funded schemes. As the tuition fee increase threatens on the academic horizon, are apprenticeships the best way to get young people into work? Cambridge First reporter Hugh Morris asks people on the streets of Cambridge what they thought.

Sarah Vose, 21 and Samuel Johnston, 22

Ben Tilley, 25, lives in Gilbert Road. He said: “I think it is an amazing thing. I went to university and came out with nothing. They are a great thing - they are a way forward, especially with university fees the way they are. It encourages people who are not academic to get into work. The wages aren’t fantastic but it will get people off the streets.”

Stephen Wright, 48, works on the fish stall at Cambridge market. He said: “There is too much unemployment - hopefully kids will take these up. I don’t know how many young people actually want to work. They are not the best wages in the world. There are a lot of places closing in the recession so I’m not sure what else the Government can do - it’s a catch 22 situation.”

Jo Harvey, 50, lives in Harston. She said: “It’s a lot more hands on. There are lot of young people not looking to go to university. They end up going to university and they don’t come out with anything. Apprenticeships are a really great idea. If people are more practical than academic then they should be interested.”

Adam Stevens, 53, works on the flowers stall at Cambridge market. Adam said: “Yes, I do think it’s a good idea. You have to look at the long term. It’s about getting people into employment and how can you put a value on that. I think half the young people will be interested, but it’s too easy to take money and not do anything today but I think half will go for it.”

Emily Grader, 19, and Beverley Wilson, 18, study natural science at Cambridge University. Emily said: “It’s helping people get the skills. It can be better than university for a lot of people. The Government funds people degrees through students loans so they should support apprentices as well. People gain a lot more skills when they’re working.”

Beverley said: “It’s a lot better to get hands-on experience than going to university. Often, skills you gain at university are not ones for life.”

Sarah Vose, 21, and Samuel Johnston, 22, study social and political sciences at Cambridge University. Sarah said: “It’s a great way of getting people into work. A lot of people will be discouraged from applying to university by tuition fees. It’s more opportunity for people who dropped out of school at 16. My friend does a carpentry apprenticeship and he never wanted to be in school.”

Samuel said: “It’s good to have a Government-sanctioned alternative to university. I think it’s great the Government are doing it.”

John Geary, 65, works behind the records stall at Cambridge market. He said: “It is one way to do it. It is strange how apprenticeships have disappeared as the industries have shrunk. There is not as much employment for the skilled workers as there was in the ‘60s and ‘70s. I think there has got to be improved links with schools and more money in the careers service. There needs to be more money put into the youth centres - rather than taking money out of it.”