The government have increased the minimum pay rate for apprentices from £80 to £95 a week.

With the average weekly wage for apprentices standing at around £170 a week this increase will benefit those under 19 and in their first year of apprentices who are exempt from the national minimum wage.

"The next move must be to protect apprentices with the minimum wage, so that employers cannot exploit young trainees by ignoring the minimum pay rate. At a small cost to employers, this would improve the reputation of apprenticeships and encourage more young people to enrol," said TUC general secretary Brendan Barber.

The government made the announcement as a response to dropping numbers of apprentices, with an 8% decline among 16-18-year-olds and a 2% drop for those aged 19 to 24.