WYRE Forest MP Mark Garnier has welcomed the news that in 2013/14 there was a record number of businesses taking on apprentices in the district.

The 460 businesses actively employing apprentices in the area put the Wyre Forest at the top of the list of other Worcestershire constituencies and on par with Bromsgrove and Worcester, both significant urban areas.

But not stopping their, the Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership’s (LEP) Skills Capitals Fund is working with Further Education colleges to deliver a further 600 apprenticeships and 3000 Higher Level skills qualifications by 2020.

The Tory MP said the figures, which came in the run up to the 2015 National Apprentice Week, which is held nationally from March 9 to 13, were "warmly welcomed" by the government and the local community.

He said: "Training young people is vital to ensure they have the practical skills and abilities to enter the world of work. This is why these figures are to be warmly welcomed and they show the level of engagement by local companies in helping to create the next generation of skilled workers."

He added: "A Conservative Government after the General Election would create three million new apprentices and ensure there are no caps on university places so that all young people have the chance to succeed."