LAST night at the County Ground we held a ceremony to celebrate the positive impact that apprenticeships and traineeships have on individuals, businesses, and the wider economy in Swindon.

The council organised the Swindon Apprenticeship Awards to mark National Apprenticeship Week, which runs from March 14-18.

I know how valuable good vocational education is to helping people get a good start to their working life.

That is why one of the Council Vision’s 30 pledges seeks to increase the number of businesses employing people as apprentices from 15 per cent to 20 per cent - a further 280 places (Pledge 18).

I was pleased to see 19 apprentices from a range of organisations presented with awards to recognise their achievements.

The event also featured the Apprenticeship Torch, which has been touring the south of the country in the run-up to National Apprenticeship Week.

In 2014-15, 676 local workplaces took on 1,770 apprentices and the council’s ambitious target, in partnership with employers, is to have more than 10,000 apprenticeship enrolments over the next five years.

All the feedback I have received from companies confirms that hiring apprentices helps businesses to develop a motivated, skilled, and qualified workforce.

The council received 51 nominations for the apprenticeship awards from employers across the borough. There were four award categories: Traineeship, Intermediate, Advanced, and Higher. These awards were open to people who are currently completing full apprenticeships or traineeships.

There were a number of awards in each section to celebrate the full breadth of sector opportunities available within Swindon.

We chose the winners for their outstanding skills and qualities on successfully completed projects, how they have exceeded their employer’s expectations, and how they have benefitted their business.

It is crucial for our economy that young people look at developing vocational skills.

Apprenticeships are available in more than 170 industries covering more than 1,500 job roles. There are up to 27,000 vacancies available across England on the apprenticeships.gov.uk website right now.

In addition to this, the National Apprenticeship Service offers free advice and support to those looking to recruit apprentices or take on a trainee for the first time, or expand their existing programmes.

Anyone interested in taking on an apprentice or offering a traineeship should call the National Apprenticeship Service on 08000 150 600 or go to GOV.UK and search ‘apprenticeships’ or ‘traineeships’.