Apprentice numbers in Surrey are rising at a faster rate than the rest of the south-east, new data has revealed.

In April this year, 1,747 young people aged 19 to 24 in the county had signed up to apprenticeship schemes in nine months, a rise of 10.8 per cent compared with the same period a year earlier.

The number of apprentices aged 16 to 18 also grew by almost 5 per cent in the same period.

The county has been more successful with the scheme than the rest of the south-east, where there was an overall growth of 4.3 per cent in 19 to 24-year-old apprentices, but a 7.4 per cent fall in 16 to 18 year olds.

David Hodge, leader of Surrey County Council, said: “This continued rise in the number of young people getting on the career ladder is a fantastic endorsement from employers and apprentices alike.

“Apprenticeships provide young people with skills they require, give businesses the workforce they need to thrive and help the economy grow, which is why we’re aiming to create another 500 by next April.”

Surrey County Council is aiming to get 500 more young people into apprenticeships by April 2014, after it successfully created an incentive to get businesses to hire apprentices last year.