Skillset Offer £1.5K For Firms To Take On Apprentices

Skillset is to help 500 small creative businesses take on their first apprentice through cash incentive.
Business Secretary Vince Cable announced that Skillset will direct incentive payments of up to £1,500 to 500 small firms taking on their first apprentice.
Skillset will make the Government payments available to Creative Industries employers with less than 250 staff.
Dr Cable made the announcement at the launch of the fifth annual National Apprenticeship Week at Channel Four in London yesterday.
The event was attended by apprentices and representatives from throughout the Creative Industries - including Channel Four itself, the BBC, Asos.com, Shed Media, MPG Media and McCann Manchester. Many of these businesses have apprentices under the Skillset Apprenticeships in Creative & Digital Media and Fashion & Textiles.
The Government and Creative Industries Council recently endorsed Skillset to lead a drive to help more companies in the sector take on apprentices in partnership with the National Apprenticeships Service (NAS). This will include a promotional campaign to raise the profile of apprenticeships in the creative industries.
Vince Cable said: "Apprenticeships are at the centre of the Government's skills policy because we know that they work. Not only do they provide individuals with the skills they need for prosperous and rewarding careers, they also boost businesses' profits and drive growth in the wider economy.
"I'm pleased that the Creative Industries recognise this and we support all the work they are doing to increase the number of apprenticeships in the sector, particularly in small businesses.
"We are providing extra help to enable small employers to hire their first apprentices. We will also continue to develop new advanced and higher-level apprenticeships to deliver the world-class skills individuals and firms need to get ahead."
Chief executive of Channel Four and Skillset board member, David Abraham, said: "Apprenticeships are a fantastic and innovative way for creative employers to develop the fresh talent they need to continue driving growth, while at the same time improving diversity and fair access to our industries.
"As endorsed by the Creative Industries Council just last month, now is the time for the whole sector to embrace apprenticeships as a key entry route to our industries, helping to address our business needs. That is why we so warmly welcome the partnership between Skillset and NAS to drive this work forward."
(LB)