This week is National Apprentice Week so we've been asking local business people how important apprenticeships are to the economy here in south east Wales and the UK in general.

Helen Barry, QualitySolicitors Rubin Lewis O'Brien

I believe apprenticeships are a great way of learning the skills which employers are specifically looking for. This gives people of all ages who have been through an apprenticeship scheme an advantage as they have a breadth of experience in a particular job role. This can only benefit the economy and reduce youth unemployment.

Richard Selby, director at Pro Steel Engineering, Langstone

Young people are the future of Wales. With an estimated 50,000 young people unemployed across the country, apprenticeships are vital for helping them back into work. Apprenticeships help people to boost their qualifications, while learning practical skills in the workplace. During the future development of our business, we’ll be seeking young people to power our business to the next level. Apprenticeship schemes allow us to harness and progress talent, to create tomorrow’s workforce.

John Nash, managing director at Construction Skills Training, Caerphilly

Yes. Apprentices make a significant impact on both youth unemployment and the Welsh economy. An apprenticeship is the foundation stone of a vocational career and those who complete one will develop key skills and knowledge, serve the business needs of their employer and contribute to the wider Welsh economy. A key point to note is that apprentices don’t stop learning and enhancing their skill set when their apprenticeship is over. An apprenticeship gives people an appetite to fulfil lifelong self-development, which again serves the long term needs of the Welsh economy to achieve a highly skilled and flexible workforce.

Andrew Cooksley, managing director of ACT Training, which has centres across Wales, including in Caerphilly.

Gaining on-the-job experience and having real responsibility from a young age provides many young learners with the confidence and work ethic they need to succeed in their adult life. Lots of young people have the potential to be trained and become part of the skilled workforce, but without opportunities from employers to gain experience first-hand we do risk losing a young generation to a life of unskilled labour and benefits. Developments within our university system, and increasing recognition that different learning needs apply from one individual to another, has seen the profile of apprenticeships rise in recent years as a valid and viable route to employment across the board. Research also shows us that employers who have trained apprenticeships believe it made their firms more competitive and led to higher productivity, making the apprenticeship an ideal partnership model for learners and business leaders still facing numerous challenges posed by the UK economy today.

Clive Thomas, managing partner, Watkins & Gunn Solicitors

I am a big supporter of apprenticeship schemes, if appropriately supervised. I think they are an excellent method of enabling new starters to train and get an excellent grounding in a trade or profession. We have operated an apprentice scheme at Watkins & Gunn over the last two years with fantastic results. Within the legal sector, apprenticeships have proved to be a really positive way of accessing the legal profession while “earning while you learn” and avoiding running up a large student debt.

Haydn Thomas, director, Hutchings & Thomas Chartered Surveyors, Newport

I feel that apprenticeships are now more important than ever. With the increasing costs/debt faced by young people looking to go to university, apprenticeships will give a valuable alternative, also if the funding for apprenticeships is targeted correctly, ie where the economy is lacking skills and labour supply, it could be beneficial in helping those sectors and getting young people into meaningful employment. Too many skilled workers have been lost to the economy over recent decades and it does concern me that we may not have enough companies to assist in the programme . This is where tertiary colleges can also play an important role. To this end the Welsh Government should be assisting these companies financially , with tax break or grants ,as the multiplier effect of such funding could be huge. Giving young people skills and confidence is essential in paving the way for a successful economy and if the apprenticeship schemes target sectors which can add value such as manufacturing, trades and research and development this will enhance the economy for years to come.

Robert Twigg, commercial property partner, Everett Tomlin Lloyd and Pratt Solicitors, Newport and Pontypool

There is definitely an vital role for apprentices in business so that industry can afford to invest in skilled workers and young people have the opportunity to progress . In the legal sector historically, training was started through an apprentice type scheme (as a trainee solicitor) . A legal apprentice scheme has recently been introduced and should provide a formalised training path and recognition for paralegals. At present the restrictions that apply to it mean that it’s only available to practices who deal with certain high volume areas of law. An expansion of the scheme to open it up to more firms would be welcomed.