Construction union UCATT are "bitterly disappointed" at the news that the level of grants available for construction apprenticeships is to be cut by almost 10 per cent.

From August 2010 the level of grant payable over 3 years to a company training a construction apprentice will be reduced from £9,820 to £9,000.

The decision has been made by Construction the Sectors Skills Council responsible for paying grants to construction companies for apprenticeships and training. ConstructionSkills have claimed that the cut in grant was necessary due to a reduction in the training levy being generated by the industry, as a result of the recession.

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However UCATT argued that due to the ongoing problems of too few apprentices being recruited into the industry, the level of apprenticeship grants should not be reduced and other grants and cost cutting measures should be implemented.

Alan Ritchie, General Secretary of UCATT, said: "The decision to reduce the grants for apprenticeships is short sighted, unnecessary and will harm the industry. Most employers already have to be virtually dragged kicking and screaming to employ apprentices. The cut in apprenticeship grants will give them a further excuse not to employ apprentices."

The number of apprentices being trained in construction has been falling for decades, the industry currently needs 40,000 new entrants per annum in order to stand still. Prior to the recession the number of apprentices being trained every year was only around 20,000 and numbers have subsequently fallen.

Mr Ritchie, added: "The cuts in grants undermine the good work that the previous Government had undertaken in promoting apprentice numbers and runs directly counter to the warm words from the coalition about encouraging apprenticeships."

(CD/GK)