ECITB aiming for 25% more apprentices

The Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) is aiming to step up its recruitment of apprentices this year by 25%.
It is also seeking to upskill a further 2,000 existing operatives with formal qualifications through its Assuring Competence in Engineering Construction skills accreditation scheme.
The ECITB's latest annual report says a key target for this year is to recruit 240 apprentices, compared with the 192 intake achieved in 2003.
Last year the board increased its spending on training grants by more than £1m to £14.6m. Levy income was marginally down at £10.5m.
There was an overall trading deficit of £500,000. This was less than anticipated "largely due to a drop-off in short course uptake and low demand for the national skills development programme".