THE number of apprenticeships in Worcestershire has smashed through the 15,000 mark, it has emerged.

New figures from Worcestershire County Council have revealed how the number of apprenticeships from 2012 to now stands at 15,930.

Four years ago council chiefs and business leaders set the county a target of reaching 10,000 by this year, with the figure exceeding all expectations.

Seven in 10 of those in Worcestershire who embark on an apprenticeship end up completing it, with bosses saying they want that to be higher.

A leading Tory at County Hall says the figures are vindication of the "widespread support" for apprenticeships.

In 2012 the Worcester News launched its 100 in 100 campaign, urging employers to collectively sign up 100 new apprentices within 100 days, with more than 200 young people getting jobs.

Councillor Ken Pollock, the cabinet member for economy, skills and infrastructure, said: "I have a feeling you could say there's a very broad, widespread support for the idea of more apprenticeships.

"In a sense rebalancing our educational attainment, because there's always been a huge emphasis on trying to get the best through to university.

"Previous administrations wanted to get every other person to go to university, now we have a slightly more realistic view of that.

"We can actually see that people going through apprenticeships can have a very successful career and end up doing a really good job.

"I must compliment the Worcester News on that, they've joined us in this whole enterprise in actually trying to encourage people to go into apprenticeships."

Between 2013/14 and 2014/15 the number of apprenticeship starts for 16-18 year-olds in Worcestershire grew by 11 per cent, from 1,220 to 1,360.

Apprenticeship starts overall were up 12.4 per cent to 5,420, with experts in the county now keen to target the 16-24 age range going forward.

The completion rate of 70 per cent is one per cent below the national average, but employers say those who quit early normally do so after finding work elsewhere.

Last year we revealed how Worcester MP Robin Walker set Worcestershire a fresh target of getting 15,000 new apprenticeships by 2020.

In recent weeks the Government has been criticised for seeking to impose cuts of between 30 and 50 per cent on colleges and UK training providers, with Labour MPs warning it will halt progress.

The two most popular subjects for 16-18 year-olds, of business administration and construction, face cuts of at least 27 per cent.

More than 50 parliamentarians have written to apprenticeships and skills minister Robert Halfon urging a change in policy.

The Government says it is proposing to hand employers an extra £1,000 for every young apprentice taken on, with overall spending on it due to reach £2.5 billion by 2019/20, double the figure in 2010/11.