The number of disabled people in apprenticeships has more than tripled in the last 10 years.
The increase, from 12,960 in 2002/03 to 42,850 in 2012/13, slightly outstrips the growth in apprenticeships overall.
This summer also marks 1 year on since the prime minister launched the Disability Confident campaign to help more disabled people into apprenticeships and jobs, and dispel the myths around the costs of hiring someone with a disability. More than 1,000 companies have supported the campaign, including Barclays, KPMG and Balfour Beatty, who are all trying to attract talented disabled people as part of their apprenticeships recruitment drive.
With thousands of students across the country considering their next path after their GCSE results, the Minister for Disabled People Mark Harper says a disability shouldn’t be a barrier to getting an apprenticeship:
More and more employers are seeing the ability, rather than the disability when it comes to recruiting talented apprentices. Apprenticeships are becoming an increasingly popular choice for young people and it’s absolutely right that disabled people are taking advantage of these opportunities.
