More than 300,000 put into training in West Midlands in five years

Supporting National Apprenticeship Week, Ms Milling used a debate in Parliament to highlight the progress being made in the area to create new apprenticeships.

She said: "Apprenticeships make sense for many young people across Cannock Chase, which is why 6,590 new apprenticeships have been started here since May 2010 and over 2.6 million new apprenticeships have started across England.

"I was particularly pleased by recent figures that showed that the number of apprenticeships started in Cannock Chase topped the tables in Staffordshire. The Government is driving up the standards of apprenticeships and introducing new routes into the professions. The opportunity to earn and learn is why we've already seen 315,800 new apprenticeships created in West Midlands since May 2010.

These recent figures show that we are making progress towards our goal." The Express & Star's apprenticeship campaign the Ladder for the Black Country and Ladder for Staffordshire has seen hundreds of apprenticeships created for young people.

Ms Milling has been one of the key campaign supporters in Staffordshire.

The Government now plans to launch the new independent, employer led, Institute for Apprenticeships.

The Institute will regulate the quality of apprenticeships in England, taking on responsibility for approving new apprenticeship standards and assessment plans. Only standards that are valued by employers will be approved and funded.

Ms Milling added: "Getting employers involved in designing and setting the standards of apprenticeships is really important. "We need to ensure that the skills that apprentices are gaining will help them with their careers, whatever the sector, and enable them to really contribute to the businesses they work in.

"If we can achieve this I am confident that businesses will take on more apprentices, giving more young people the opportunities an apprenticeship can offer." Liberal Democrat MP Norman Lamb visited the region yesterday to meet healthcare apprentices as part of National Apprenticeship Week.

He said: "The demand for healthcare is rising inexorably as a result of a growing and an ageing population. More people are living with long-term conditions than ever before, while the cost of advances in medical treatment places further strain on the system.

"We need to ensure that our NHS workforce has the skilled professionals it needs. It's essential that we commit wholly to supporting apprenticeships."