黑洞社区

Chancellor George Osborne鈥檚 budget this month contained a raft of measures designed to stimulate the jobs market.

Chief among these was the announcement of 40,000 new apprenticeships for young people out of work.

A further 拢180m will be allocated to fund 10,000 鈥渉igh-level鈥� adult apprenticeships focusing on advanced skills.

The government hopes to address acute skills shortages in engineering by making the profession 鈥渕ore desirable鈥�.

One of the more imaginative proposals is a new international prize in engineering to generate excitement about careers in the sector.

At least six exceptional engineers from business will also be awarded a manufacturing 鈥渇ellowship鈥� to lead a 拢1m programme of research with 鈥渞eal commercial potential鈥�.

Osborne said the government is on track to deliver 250,000 more apprenticeships by 2015 than the previous Labour administration.

It is likely construction firms such as Carillion with long-standing apprenticeship partnerships with the government will look to get involved in the scheme.

Also in the budget were plans for 12 new university technical colleges (UTCs), taking the number of UTCs to be launched over the next few years to 24.

A number of construction and engineering firms have expressed an interest in following digger giant JCB鈥檚 lead in setting up a UTC.

JCB was the first company to set up a UTC last autumn and will take its first full intake this September.

UTCs teach a vocational or technical curriculum to pupils from 14-years-old.

Osborne also announced funding for 100,000 new work experience placements.