The Age and Employment Network (TAEN) has claimed that apprenticeships should not be restricted to young people.

Responding to the House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee's report on apprenticeships, which recommended a single minister head up the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS), for the NAS to be responsible for contacting employers to encourage them to offer apprenticeship schemes and that apprenticeships should be paid directly to employers, Keith Frost, business manager at TAEN, said: "We are dismayed that the Committee did not choose to explore, or comment on, the role which apprenticeships for adults (those aged 25+) should play as part of the overall skills training mix.

"The government acknowledges that there is a clear demand from employers for adult apprenticeships - but has so far only committed to funding 10,000 places a year. While this is slightly better than nothing, this is a paltry and totally inadequate response to the demographic and economic challenges we are facing.”