Modern Apprenticeships are proving popular among young people from a wide variety of backgrounds, education secretary David Blunkett claimed as the results of two national surveys were published last Friday. The apprenticeships, designed to enable more 16 to 24-year-olds to gain higher level skills, are providing flexible training options focusing on the world of work, a survey of 3,000 apprentices found. Nearly three-quarters of employers surveyed said the apprenticeships improved the quality of training.