A practical guide on modern apprenticeships aimed at schools, colleges, parents and employers has been published by CRAC. Described as “the lifeblood for thousands of young people seeking a more vocationally-orientated career”, it includes reference material and briefings for teachers, handouts and exercises for students and handouts and overheads for teachers to use in presentations to parents. Included in the section for students are case studies in which young people describe their experiences of being an apprentice with, for example, ICI, an insurance company and an employment agency.

The pack also looks at some of the most frequently expressed doubts about the Modern Apprenticeship scheme: Is this just one more government training scheme? What do they offer that is new? and Is this a high risk choice at 16?