NATIONAL Apprenticeship Week starts today with research showing that consumers in East Lancashire prefer to do business with businesses employing apprentices.

A report from the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) has revealed that offering apprenticeships was perceived by 66 per cent of the north west as contributing to society and providing opportunities for young people.

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One in four consumers from the north west (24 per cent) said they would go as far as even paying more for goods and services offered by companies that employ apprentices.

The report, launched to mark the start of National Apprenticeship Week 2015, is part of a national drive to promote the benefits of apprenticeships.

Events taking place across Blackburn, Hyndburn, Burnley and Pendle will celebrate the success of apprenticeships that have been transformed over recent years so they are more responsive to the needs of employers and learners.

Rossendale and Darwen MP Jake Berry said: “I’m a huge champion of apprenticeships and this research is very encouraging, showing just how valuable and important apprentices can be to an organisation.

“Over the last three years, my ‘100 apprenticeships in 100 days’ campaigns have seen around 600 apprenticeships created for young people in our area and in 2013 I even took on my own apprentice – Jess from Darwen – who has been a fantastic and valuable addition to the team.

“Since 2010, the number of young people taking on apprenticeships in Rossendale and Darwen has increased by 1,000.

“That’s a huge increase of 85 per cent in the last five years, meaning 1,000 more young people taking their first steps on the career ladder.

“An apprenticeship is not just a job, it’s the start of a career, offering huge opportunities to both young people and employers.”

The week will also see the start of a new mentoring service for small businesses interested in taking on apprentices and will be launched by small business champion Jason Holt CBE.

The figures show that while training, each apprentice in the north west is estimated to deliver an average positive net gain of £1,517 to their employers.

Skills minister Nick Boles said: “This research is further proof that apprenticeships deliver for businesses as well as providing life changing opportunities for young people.”

“National Apprenticeship Week gives us the opportunity to raise the profile of apprenticeships and traineeships, and to celebrate the important role they play in our economy.

“I encourage people of all ages and employers of all shapes and sizes to find out more about apprenticeships and how they can deliver for them.”

Scott Corfe, co-author of the report The Benefits of Apprenticeships to Businesses, said: “This report proves that hiring apprentices has a hugely positive impact on employers themselves.

“Not only do apprentices contribute to the productivity of a company from day one, but consumers are more likely to switch to brands and firms that employ apprentices.”

To find out more about National Apprenticeship Week, search for apprenticeships on www.gov.uk.