THE number of apprenticeship places funded by Essex County Council has more than halved in the past year.

The figures were revealed by Julie Young, Labour group leader at County Hall.

Mrs Young said a year ago, the council was supporting 539 apprenticeships, with more than 170 people on a waiting list for placements.

This year, the number the council is planning to support is just 232. Mrs Young said: “Nationally, an estimated £814million a year is being wasted through young people dropping out because of poor car eers advice. We simpl y cannot stand by and see a lost generation repeated.”

Mrs Young said Labour councillors would be pushing for the council to support the same number of apprenticeships as last year.

She added: “The proposal to reduce the number of places is completely unacceptable.”

The Labour group also wanted to reinstate face-to-face careers advice, she said, help young people to develop skills which made them more employable and support them as they moved work.

Tory councillor responsible for economic growth, Kevin Bentley, denied the council was reducing opportunities for teenagers.

He said: “I am immensely proud of our scheme.

“The Government model copied our scheme and we are putting money into it, but you have to adapt and look at different ways of working. We are developing the Essex Skills Board. There are absolutely more opportunities now.

“This is about getting the right skills with the right qualifications for the right jobs for young people and employers.”

A statement from the Essex Employment and Skills Board was critical of the skills being taught to youngster.

The board brings together employers, councils and educators to identify the skills needed and help potential workers get those skills.

It said: “The overwhelming feedback from local businesses is we are experiencing skills shortages and recruitment challenges, atatime when youth unemployment is high.

“We need to make sure that our young people are properly equipped for future careers.

“While many colleges and providers are responding to industry need, there is a clear mismatch between what we, as emplo y e r s , need and the training on offer.