Since 2009 the Employability and Skills Unit Apprenticeship Team has worked with employers and local training providers to create over 2,100 Apprenticeships (as at April 2013) for young people, across the county.
 
The Essex Apprentice programmes provide employers with a wage subsidy as an incentive to take on an apprentice. Other initiatives support those Not in Education, Employment and Training (NEET), as well as the disadvantaged and vulnerable, creating an environment in which economic opportunity is made available to all.
 
We are also working closely with schools to encourage young people to consider future opportunities and careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM). 
 
These initiatives help young people in Essex achieve their full potential through learning as well as supporting employers to generate wealth, jobs and opportunity. By addressing skills shortages in key industries, such as Energy and STEM, we can provide a foundation upon which our future economic growth and prosperity can be built.