Take-up of construction-related apprenticeships plummets

JUST one person started an apprenticeship in painting and decorating in the south-west region last year.

Nationally, the number who have embarked on a such a career path plunged from 161 in 2006 to 19 in 2009, further evidence of the rapidly declining construction sector.

There was also a sharp drop in the take-up of plumber apprenticeships, with 127 signing up nationally last year compared to 1,500 in 2006. Carpenter apprenticeships fell from 1,907 to 140.