The government has announced new benefits for apprentices and companies offering apprenticeships in the UK.

Universities and science minister, David Willetts, has announced new benefits for apprentices and companies offering apprenticeships in the UK.

Willetts said the government would "cut back on the red tape which ties down companies offering apprenticeships", as well as increase funding for new schemes, and give a new title to apprentices upon completion of their studies.

The spending review revealed a 50% increase in funding for new apprenticeships, which the Chartered Institute of Plumbing & Heating (CIPHE) says is good news for small and medium enterprises "that form the majority of industry employers".

It is not just teenagers that could benefit from the government's pledge. CIPHE recently claimed there to be more apprentices over the age of 50 entering schemes, including 400 in their 60s and 13 in their 70s.

The institute believes many of these people will have joined apprenticeship schemes after losing their jobs.

CIPHE's chief executive, Blane Judd, said: "At CIPHE, we support apprenticeships as the best way to get into plumbing or heating engineering.

"With support like this from the government, we're hoping the UK can plug the skills gap and get the jobs market moving again."